Roofman is an upcoming crime comedy-drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance, based on the bizarre real-life story of Jeffrey Manchester, a former U.S. Army Reserve officer who gained the nickname “Roofman” for his unusual method of robbery—breaking into restaurants through the roof. The story gets even stranger when he escaped prison and secretly lived inside a Toys “R” Us for months to avoid getting caught.
This film stars Channing Tatum as Manchester, with a strong supporting cast that includes Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, Uzo Aduba, and others. It’s scheduled to hit theaters in the U.S. on October 10, 2025, distributed by Paramount Pictures. According to NetFilming, the movie was shot entirely in North Carolina, doubling for the original locations where Manchester operated.
Let’s take a closer look at where Roofman was filmed—and why these locations matter.
Where Was Roofman Filmed?
The movie was mostly filmed in North Carolina, and important locations were chosen to look like the places where Jeffrey Manchester committed his crimes. The real Toys “R” Us store where Manchester hid was in Highland Park, Illinois. The production team recreated these scenes in North Carolina, using a mix of real places and sets. Here’s a breakdown of the main filming locations.
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, a small city west of Charlotte, was where Roofman’s production took place. This place was a natural choice because many of the crimes that happened in real life in Manchester happened here. The city’s everyday charm, with its suburban streets and local businesses, made a real setting for the movie’s fast-food heists and community scenes. The crew set up shop in Gastonia to film Manchester’s story, which included his sneaky break-ins and his life on the run.
Trivia: Gastonia has been a filming hotspot before! It was a key location for The Hunger Games (2012), where parts of District 12 were shot in nearby abandoned mills, giving the dystopian world a gritty, realistic feel.
Freedom Park, Charlotte, North Carolina
Some of the film’s outdoor scenes were filmed in Freedom Park, a beloved green space in Charlotte. This park was great for filming casual or community scenes in the movie because it had a beautiful lake, walking paths and open fields. It was probably used as a stand-in for public scenes where Manchester, using a fake name, blended in with everyday life. The park’s lively atmosphere made the movie’s setting more interesting.
Trivia: Charlotte’s Freedom Park has been used in other projects, like the TV show Homeland, where its beautiful scenery was used for dramatic outdoor scenes. This shows how flexible the city is as a filming location.
Mecklenburg County Jail North, Charlotte
The production used Mecklenburg County Jail North in Charlotte to show Manchester’s problems with the law. This real jail made the scenes where people were arrested or put in jail feel real, which made the movie’s crime elements more believable. The facility’s stark, institutional look probably made the story’s dramatic parts even more tense.
Trivia: Charlotte’s jail has been used in other crime shows, like Law & Order, which makes it a fantastic place for gritty, realistic scenes in the area.
Gaston County Courthouse, Gastonia
Another important place was the Gaston County Courthouse in Gastonia, which was probably used for courtroom scenes related to Manchester’s legal problems. It was a good choice because of its classic architecture and how close it was to the real crime scenes. The courthouse’s old-fashioned look probably made the film’s portrayal of the effects on Manchester more interesting.
Production Timeline of Roofman (2025)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 24, 2024 | Principal photography began in Gastonia |
| November 2024 | Filming continued across Charlotte, Freedom Park, and local streets |
| December 12, 2024 | Production officially wrapped |
Roofman Behind The Scenes
The creative team put in a lot of effort to make the strange true story of Jeffrey Manchester work with comedy, suspense and emotional depth. Derek Cianfrance, who is known for his down-to-earth, character-driven films like Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, brought a unique mix of humour and humanity to the story.
“We didn’t want to turn Jeffrey into a joke,” Cianfrance said in a production interview. “It’s about a man who wanted connection but chose the wrong path. The comedy comes from the absurdity of what he did—not from making fun of him.”
Lead actor Channing Tatum, who plays Manchester, revealed that he studied hours of interview footage and court transcripts to understand the character. “He’s not your typical criminal. He’s oddly likable, and that’s what makes the story so wild,” said Tatum.
The cast and crew filmed in real locations connected to Manchester’s life, including courtrooms and neighborhoods where he once operated. According to producer Kirt Gunn, filming in those spots brought authenticity: “We didn’t want to build everything on a soundstage. We wanted audiences to feel like this actually happened—because it did.”
Even though the film includes comedic moments, the team remained respectful of the people affected by Manchester’s crimes.
Roofman Official Trailer
NetFilming will continue to follow the film’s journey towards its October 2025 release, providing trailers, behind-the-scenes news, and more updates as they become available.
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