It’s hard to believe the premise of Roofman, Channing Tatum‘s new dark comedy, is inspired by a true story, but the film is, indeed, based on the crimes of convicted robber Jeffrey Manchester. In a tale too outlandish to be fiction, co-writer and director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) weaves a surprisingly heartwarming feature with an ensemble cast, and Collider’s Steve Weintraub was able to sit down with the filmmaker and stars at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025, where the film celebrated its premiere.

In the movie, Tatum portrays Manchester, a U.S. veteran and father who resorts to (politely) robbing McDonald’s locations in order to make ends meet. After getting caught and incarcerated, Manchester hatches an imaginative escape plan and takes refuge in a Toys “R” Us. Holed up in the toy store for months, Cianfrance and co-writer Kirt Gunn (Lovely by Surprise) tap into Manchester’s unexpected romance with a local woman, Leigh Wainscott, who is portrayed in the movie by Academy Award nominee Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog), and the secret life he lives when the staff close up shop for the night. Roofman‘s all-star cast is rounded out by Peter Dinklage (The Toxic Avenger), Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Uzo Aduba (The Residence), Ben Mendelsohn (Andor), and Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah).

At TIFF 2025, Cianfrance, Tatum, and Dunst stopped by Collider’s Media Studio to talk about the behind-the-scenes for their film. They share everything from their on and off-set chemistry to completely recreating a ’90s-era Toys “R” Store from the ground up, with real collectibles, plus what the crew stole from the set. They discuss their conversations with the real Jeffrey Manchester, his reaction to one of Tatum’s scenes, and the two stars tease their upcoming projects, The Entertainment System is Down and Tatum’s reprising his role as Gambit in Avengers: Doomsday.

Kirsten Dunst Remembers Only the Important Part of ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

“Throw up and dogs.”

COLLIDER: Derek, what do I need to do to get you to make more movies or shows?

DEREK CIANFRANCE: Well, my kids are older now. My boys are 18 and 21, and the last 20 years I’ve been really focused on being a dad and making movies, but I’ve been trying not to make movies. I’ve been trying to just spend as much time at home so I could raise them. But now they’re of age, and so I’m hoping that I get busier.

We need you making more stuff. It’s very important. This is a priority.

CIANFRANCE: Okay, I’m in.

So, I like asking some curveballs at the beginning, and [Kirsten], very early in your career, you did an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

KIRSTEN DUNST: I was playing Hedril.

Yeah, it was Season 7, Episode 7, so it’s the final season of the show. What do you remember about doing that?

DUNST: I really remember that, actually. I had black contact lenses in. I got the Star Trek job after I got Interview with the Vampire. It was the buzz that I had just gotten it, so I think that they gave me the role because they were like, “This girl might be good.” And then, I remember I was in this really clammy area in the suit, it was so hot playing in this arboretum, and I threw up. And there was a dog. That’s what kids remember. I threw up.

CIANFRANCE: Throw up and dogs.

DUNST: I had these brains on the side of my head, I remember, too.

CIANFRANCE: You had external brains?

DUNST: Yeah, I had external brains, contact lenses, and a dog. Those suits, I don’t know how they did that every episode. The suits are very uncomfortable. It’s like wearing a scuba suit, and in a sweaty room.

If you watch the episodes again, it’s pretty amazing what they pulled off on those tiny little sets. It’s pretty amazing.

‘Roofman’ Is a Spinning Coin of Drama and Comedy

Cianfrance admits that just recreating Jeffrey Manchester’s story was exhausting.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE DONE WHAT I CALL THE ACTOR’S LOTTERY…

TATUM: I realize it almost every day…

DUNST: I feel very grateful…

TATUM: I’ve only met you one other time before…

DUNST: I was nervous too!

TATUM: A lot of people have seen…

The Crew Built a Real Toys “R” Us From the Ground Up

And stole from it too.

TATUM:I grew up with Toys “R” Us…

DUNST:No!Cianfrance:No!.