'Roofman' Interview: Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst

Moviefone speaks with Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst about 'Roofman'. "I was not aware of the actual story, but the script is incredible," Tatum said.

(L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in 'Roofman'.

Available now on digital from Paramount Pictures is the new crime film ‘Roofman’, which was directed by Derek Cianfrance (‘The Place Beyond the Pines’) and based on a true story.

The movie stars Channing Tatum (‘Deadpool and Wolverine’), Kirsten Dunst (‘Spider-Man’), LaKeith Stanfield (‘Knives Out’), Juno Temple (‘Venom: The Last Dance’), Peter Dinklage (‘Avengers: Infinity War’), Uzo Aduba (‘Lightyear’), and Ben Mendelsohn (‘Captain Marvel’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst about their work on ‘Roofman’, the true story it is based on, Tatum’s first reaction to the screenplay, Dunst’s research into her role, and what it was like working with director Derek Cianfrance.

Related Article: Movie Review: 'Roofman'

Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures 'Roofman'.

Moviefone: To begin with, Channing, how aware were you of the true story the film is based on, and what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay?

Channing Tatum: I was not aware of the actual story. He's 10 years older than me, so I was probably young when it came up. I asked my parents as well, and they didn't really know of it. But in talking to Derek about it, the script is incredible. The script feels like fiction and it's just not. You go, “How could this guy have made this many decisions or this many things even happen?” There's one thing to want to do it, and there's another thing to pull it off. Talking to him, you realize he's very, very smart. The first time I ever talked to him, I had all these questions, and I didn't have to ask any of them because he kind of took care of me on the phone. By the end of it, you just end up loving the guy. I genuinely like this man, and I care about him, and I hope he gets out earlier than what he should. I personally don't think he should have gotten that many years. That's my first conversation with him after reading the script. I just liked this man, and I had some sort of connection to him that I can't really explain.

MF: Kirsten, can you talk about the research you did to play Leigh, and did you come to understand how she could fall for Jeffrey Manchester?

Kirsten Dunst: I mean, that's really what happened. This was a true love story. They really fell in love, so I wanted to tell that in a very authentic way with having two girls to worry about and knowing that this experience for her was truly an adventure. You don't really see that in people anymore, that they have that grace to look and step back and not have animosity towards each other or anything like that. They both have a very high spiritual understanding of what's important in life, and I think that she could understand and overlook the obvious lies and see a man that was really who she wished she could have been with.

(L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.

MF: Kirsten, I’ve heard you say that working with director Derek Cianfrance was a “dream”. What did you love about working with him?

KD: He loves actors so much, and whenever you're in a place that someone is championing you to do your best work and your most authentic, like the way he sets the tone on set for you, he just cares so much and there's no ego in that relationship. So, it lends itself to an honest, real performance, and that's why with his movies and shows you feel it deeply. It doesn't feel like acting in my opinion.

MF: Finally, Channing, was Derek a filmmaker that you’ve been wanting to work with for a while and what was the experience like working with him on this movie?

CT: I mean, absolutely. I stupidly turned down ‘Blue Valentine’ like 19 years ago. He'd seen a movie that I was in at Sundance, offered me the movie, I read it, and it was just so sad. At that time in my life, I didn't understand how to be in a relationship like that, I guess. I didn't have a real perspective of it and really believed that I could have pulled it off and I said, no, stupidly. That was Ryan Gosling’s movie, I guess. It was all serendipitous and this one was what we were supposed to end up connecting on and this many years later. I just went for a walk with him, and I just genuinely love him as a human and as a creator, but if we never make another movie, I hope we just get to hang out a lot because I learn something every time that I'm around him. But I would also come and just hang out on set with him. I love him as a brother. He's a special human.