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yesterday

Dave Franco Says He’s Open to Portraying Luigi Mangione in Potential Biopic

Franco’s openness underscores the public intrigue surrounding Mangione’s indictment for murdering UnitedHealthcare’s CEO with federal prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 23: Dave Franco attends the Los Angeles premiere of Neon's "Together" at Vista Theatre on July 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing for the murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson at Manhattan Criminal Court on February 21, 2025 in New York City. Mangione is accused of slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year and is making his first appearance on state charges of murder as an act of terrorism. He is facing 11 counts for the Dec. 4 shooting of Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel which set off a massive manhunt. He is also facing federal charges of murder and other charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. (Photo by Curtis Means - Pool/Getty Images)
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Luigi Mangione and James Franco.

Overview

  • Dave Franco told Watch What Happens Live that he’s “open” to playing Luigi Mangione if approached by the right people, noting no formal offers have been made.
  • Mangione, 27, remains held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after pleading not guilty to 11 state counts and four federal charges, including first-degree murder.
  • Federal prosecutors have formally requested the death penalty in the case stemming from the December 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
  • Multiple documentary projects are underway—among them one by Alex Gibney—though no scripted feature film about Mangione has been commissioned.
  • A satirical stage musical about Mangione’s story sold out its San Francisco run this spring, illustrating the swift translation of the case into diverse true crime adaptations.