Dave Franco Says He's Aware of Luigi Mangione Comparisons: 'Never Received More Texts in My Life About Anything'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dave Franco, Luigi Mangione.Photo:Clayton Chase/IndieWire via Getty;Curtis Means-Pool/Getty

Clayton Chase/IndieWire via Getty;Curtis Means-Pool/Getty

Dave Francomay not have gotten any “official” offers to playLuigi Mangione, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen the comparisons.The 39-year-old actor — who has been the subject of severalviral postsabout his apparent resemblance to the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson— toldThe Hollywood Reporterat theSundance Film Festivalthat he is well aware of fans comparing his appearance to that of Mangione.While promoting the horror filmTogether, which also stars his wifeAlison Brie, Franco was asked if anyone had reached out about the topic.“Anyone?" Brie, 42, responded. “Do you mean everyone?”“I have never received more texts in my life about anything,” Franco said in an interview published on Saturday, Jan. 25.Dave Franco attends the Indiewire Studio 2025 at Sundance on Jan. 24, 2025.Clayton Chase/IndieWire via GettyBrie, whomarried Franco in 2017, then clarified that she doesn’t think there’s been any “official offers” for her husband to take on the role, with Franco also confirming that nothing official is in the works.“Not just friends,” he said of those who have been contacting him. “Anyone who has my phone number has reached out about it.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.After Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pa., on Dec. 9 — days afterThompson’s fatal Dec. 4 shootingoutside of a New York City hotel — Franco became the subject of multiple viral posts on X and beyond, with his name ultimatelytrending on the platform.Mangione, who facesmurder and terrorism chargesin connection with Thompson’s killing, is being held in a New York federal facility. He previouslypleaded not guiltyto charges in a Manhattan courtroom on Dec. 23 and has also pleaded not guilty to the weapons charges he faces in Pennsylvania.Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on Dec. 10, 2024.Jeff Swensen/GettyInternet users aren’t the only ones pointing out the apparent resemblance between Franco and Mangione, 26. Since his arrest, the alleged gunman has also been the subject of a few different references onSaturday Night Live, including in a Dec. 14 sketch whereSarah Shermanappeared as Nancy Grace during her take onCrime Stories with Nancy Grace, as she attempted to explain how Mangione had “women and gay guys alike all hot and bothered.“In the sketch, Sherman’s Grace joked that Mangione “looks like Dave Franco withEugene Levyeyebrows.“The remainder of the sketch also featuredKenan Thompsonas Donnell Davis — a character who was"at the McDonald’s"where Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania — as well as a “guy who happens to look like Luigi Mangione.” The cold open wrapped with the show’s signature line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.“Elsewhere during the episode,Colin Jostshared a few additional jokes about Mangione during theWeekend Updatesegment, while hostChris Rockalso made a reference to the murder suspect during his opening monologue. “If he looked likeJonah Hill, no one would care. They’d already given him the chair already. He’d be dead,” Rock joked.

Dave Francomay not have gotten any “official” offers to playLuigi Mangione, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen the comparisons.

The 39-year-old actor — who has been the subject of severalviral postsabout his apparent resemblance to the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson— toldThe Hollywood Reporterat theSundance Film Festivalthat he is well aware of fans comparing his appearance to that of Mangione.

While promoting the horror filmTogether, which also stars his wifeAlison Brie, Franco was asked if anyone had reached out about the topic.

“Anyone?” Brie, 42, responded. “Do you mean everyone?”

“I have never received more texts in my life about anything,” Franco said in an interview published on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Dave Franco attends the Indiewire Studio 2025 at Sundance on Jan. 24, 2025.Clayton Chase/IndieWire via Getty

Clayton Chase/IndieWire via Getty

Brie, whomarried Franco in 2017, then clarified that she doesn’t think there’s been any “official offers” for her husband to take on the role, with Franco also confirming that nothing official is in the works.

“Not just friends,” he said of those who have been contacting him. “Anyone who has my phone number has reached out about it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

After Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pa., on Dec. 9 — days afterThompson’s fatal Dec. 4 shootingoutside of a New York City hotel — Franco became the subject of multiple viral posts on X and beyond, with his name ultimatelytrending on the platform.

Mangione, who facesmurder and terrorism chargesin connection with Thompson’s killing, is being held in a New York federal facility. He previouslypleaded not guiltyto charges in a Manhattan courtroom on Dec. 23 and has also pleaded not guilty to the weapons charges he faces in Pennsylvania.

Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on Dec. 10, 2024.Jeff Swensen/Getty

Jeff Swensen/Getty

Internet users aren’t the only ones pointing out the apparent resemblance between Franco and Mangione, 26. Since his arrest, the alleged gunman has also been the subject of a few different references onSaturday Night Live, including in a Dec. 14 sketch whereSarah Shermanappeared as Nancy Grace during her take onCrime Stories with Nancy Grace, as she attempted to explain how Mangione had “women and gay guys alike all hot and bothered.”

In the sketch, Sherman’s Grace joked that Mangione “looks like Dave Franco withEugene Levyeyebrows.”

The remainder of the sketch also featuredKenan Thompsonas Donnell Davis — a character who was"at the McDonald’s"where Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania — as well as a “guy who happens to look like Luigi Mangione.” The cold open wrapped with the show’s signature line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.”

Elsewhere during the episode,Colin Jostshared a few additional jokes about Mangione during theWeekend Updatesegment, while hostChris Rockalso made a reference to the murder suspect during his opening monologue. “If he looked likeJonah Hill, no one would care. They’d already given him the chair already. He’d be dead,” Rock joked.

source: people.com