Channing Tatum's boyish charms and easygoing demeanor had fans screaming, shrieking and chanting the star's name as he arrived for the debut of "Foxcatcher" at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday.
Tatum did not hesitate to stop and talk to his fans and reporters before rushing in for the Canadian premiere of Bennett Miller's dark drama, which also stars Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo.
Over the years, Tatum has proved his on-screen versatility by taking on roles in a wide range of genres. And his latest role in "Foxcatcher" -- a film that has already been getting a ton of Oscar buzz -- is no exception.
But it is Carell's performance that has stunned critics. Almost unrecognizable with a prosthetic high-bridge nose in the film, Carell plays the mentally ill John du Pont, a real-life millionaire who was convicted of murdering Olympic wrestler David Schultz in 1997.
"It's a dark movie, it's very complicated and layered," said Carell. "It was pretty subdued and everyone was very committed. And there's also a responsibility 'cause it's a true story so you want to try to do it justice."
It is not quite the comic roles Carell is used to, but he said it was something he wanted to try after meeting Miller, who has a history of casting against type, like when he cast Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote" and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball."
"Unbeknownst to me, my agent had sent my name in to Bennett and recommended me for the part, and apparently, it made him pause for a minute and think about it," Carell explained.
"I don't think I was on the top of anybody's list for the role, but we met and talked about the script and kind of hit it off, and I guess he figured I might be able to pull it off."
"Foxcatcher" will hit theaters on Nov. 14, after eight years of development.
When asked what the most challenging part was, he responded, "I think the most challenging part is the edit, you know? Because it took nearly a year, and as we shot it there's so much exploration and putting the pieces together really takes a lot of time."
The Toronto Film Festival, which runs till Sept. 14, will be screening 393 films -- 285 features and 108 shorts -- from 79 countries within 11 days.