Channing Tatum lost almost 70 pounds while making the movie "Roofman." In a new interview, Tatum revealed that the weight loss and his physical change were so severe that some crew members were concerned, and approached him about it.
Tatum lost the weight for the film "Roofman," where he plays the role of Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life fugitive who escaped prison and lived inside the walls of a Toys R' Us store. In an interview with Variety, Tatum shared that Manchester is “a really thin guy. Like, he's not as big-boned as me."
When he began production for the film, Tatum had just come off a role that had required him to bulk up, leaving him weighing 240 pounds. He wanted to lose some weight for the role, but didn't expect the change to be so dramatic. Tatum shared that he wanted to stop losing weight when he hit 185 pounds, but his body didn't agree with him.
“Once I was already going, it's just the days of shooting, it just kept coming off and I got down to like 172," he said.
Tatum shared that the film's assistant director approached him, concerned. “She's like, that’s it … get him a steak right now,” said Tatum. He shared that playing the part was challenging, which contributed to the weight loss. “I just see myself and I would just seem hollow and the movie ... for me was a lot of, like, loneliness.”
The film's director, Derek Cianfrance, revealed that Tatum's vision for his character was that he was thin and wiry in order to be able to fit into these tight spaces where he spent a lot of time. "I was like, whatever you want to do," said Cianfrance.
Tatum is done with gaining and losing weight
Over the years, Tatum has starred in many movies that have required big physical changes. Earlier this year, he revealed that he wouldn't be taking on those parts any more, especially those that required him to gain a lot of weight.
“1st photo is today 205, 2nd photo 235, for a movie called Josephine. Then went to 3rd photo which is 172 for a movie Roofman,” he wrote in an Instagram post, showing his body through various weight fluctuations.
He praised his team, made up of his nutritionist, chef, and trainer, while also sending a shout-out to his genetics. Still, he made it clear that he wouldn't be taking on any more "fat" roles. “It’s too hard on the body and too hard to take off now. But damn when I look at these pics it’s just wild what the human body and will can do.”