Channing Tatum caught fans off guard by sharing a photo of himself sporting blond hair and a goatee, a stark change from his usual appearance. This new look is linked to his role as Jeffrey Manchester, a character who uses a distinctive disguise in the upcoming movie “Roofman.”
The image was revealed recently as Tatum reflected on the film’s production, explaining that the unusual hairstyle was part of the disguise his character adopts during the story’s events.
The Story Behind Tatum’s Transformation and Film Details
Tatum explained that the blond wig and goatee serve as a disguise used by Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life convicted robber whose story inspired the movie. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, the film portrays Manchester’s daring 2004 prison escape and subsequent hiding inside a North Carolina Toys “R” Us store under the alias John Zorn.
Tatum described,
The wig is a disguise that Jeff uses at a certain point in the film, and it just looks really strange and very of a certain time,
—Channing Tatum, Actor.
I don’t know, I really love that look — the weird little goatee.
—Channing Tatum, Actor.
Alongside Tatum, Kirsten Dunst stars as Leigh Wainscott, a store employee and single mother unaware of Manchester’s true identity. The cast also includes notable names such as Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang, Uzo Aduba, Ben Mendelsohn, and Lakeith Stanfield.
Behind the Scenes: Capturing the Film’s Spirit with Polaroids
Throughout the filming process, Tatum has documented moments with Polaroid photos, a method he uses to stay connected to the project’s energy. He shared,
I always take Polaroids, usually on these movie sets or take pictures along the way,
—Channing Tatum, Actor.
Me and my assistant Eve [Brigham] … always pop off stuff along the way and just remind ourselves about the journey.
—Channing Tatum, Actor.
Kirsten Dunst expressed her feelings after seeing the behind-the-scenes pictures, saying,
You know what? I do feel joy when I think about it because I know that what we were all trying to do was really authentic and from a good place,
—Kirsten Dunst, Actress.
I feel like we accomplished what Derek set out to do, and that doesn’t happen all the time. So I feel really proud.
—Kirsten Dunst, Actress.
Anticipation Builds for “Roofman” Release and Its Emotional Weight
“Roofman” is scheduled for release on October 10 and promises a gripping exploration of Manchester’s story. Tatum described the filming experience as
exhausting and soul-wrenching, but … such a beautiful experience.
—Channing Tatum, Actor.
The film’s portrayal of a complex, true crime narrative combined with the dedication of the cast and crew makes it a highly anticipated release. The choice to adopt a distinct visual transformation through the Channing Tatum blond hair reveal underscores the actor’s commitment to authenticity in bringing Manchester’s story to life.
