Channing Tatum surprised fans when he revealed a new blond hairstyle and goatee in a recent behind-the-scenes photo. The actor shared the look while reflecting on moments from his latest film project. He credited the transformation to a character disguise that plays a role in the story.
Here’s what we know about his new appearance, the film it connects to, and the reactions it sparked online.
Channing Tatum posts picture of himself with blond hair
Channing Tatum said the blond hair and goatee were part of his character Jeffrey Manchester’s disguise in the film.
“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,” Tatum told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t know, I really love that look — the weird little goatee.”
The movie, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is based on the real story of Manchester, a convicted robber who became known in the press as Roofman. In 2004, after escaping from prison, he hid inside a North Carolina Toys “R” Us under the alias John Zorn. Tatum stars opposite Kirsten Dunst, who plays Leigh Wainscott, a store employee and single mother unaware of Manchester’s true identity.
Tatum has been documenting the production through polaroids, a practice he says helps him capture the spirit of each project. “I always take Polaroids, usually on these movie sets or take pictures along the way,” he explained. “Me and my assistant Eve [Brigham] … always pop off stuff along the way and just remind ourselves about the journey.”
Kirsten Dunst also reflected on the process after seeing the photos. “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,” she said. “I feel like we accomplished what Derek set out to do, and that doesn’t happen all the time. So I feel really proud.”
Roofman will release on October 10 and features a cast that includes Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang, Uzo Aduba, Ben Mendelsohn, and LaKeith Stanfield. Tatum called the shoot “exhausting and soul-wrenching, but … such a beautiful experience.”
