Dave Franco, the actor known for his roles in Neighbors and 21 Jump Street, has found himself trending online due to his striking resemblance to a murder suspect. Social media exploded with comparisons between Franco and Luigi Mangione, who is currently being sought by authorities in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The 26-year-old Mangione has been identified as the prime suspect in the shooting, which occurred in New York City last week. Authorities have shared a photo of Mangione, leading many social media users to notice the uncanny similarity between him and Franco, as The Express Tribune reported. The actor, who is known for his roles in both comedic and serious films, has been a fixture in Hollywood for years, but this latest attention comes as a surprise to many fans who are more accustomed to seeing him in roles that are far removed from criminal activity.
As soon as Mangione was identified, social media users quickly noticed his striking resemblance to 39-year-old Franco, particularly their thick eyebrows, eyes, and grin.
It didn’t take long for the internet to humorously speculate that prolific television writer Ryan Murphy was already working on turning Mangione’s story into a captivating series for television.
As Daily Mail reported, people have taken to X to post about the speculation. One said: “Dave Franco pick up the phone.” While another wrote: “Dave Franco has a role waiting for him once this inevitably becomes a movie.”
Despite the increasing attention on his look-alike status, Franco has not commented publicly on the matter, and it remains unclear how much the actor has been following the ongoing news cycle.
Mangione was charged in the December 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 51. Thompson was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where his company was holding an Investor Day event. The shooting, described by witnesses as “brazen” and “calculated,” took place in broad daylight in one of Manhattan’s busiest areas. Mangione was arrested on December 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a tip from a McDonald’s employee.
During the arrest, authorities discovered a handgun, a silencer, fake IDs, and a handwritten manifesto. The manifesto criticized the healthcare industry for putting profits over people and appeared to target UnitedHealthcare specifically, suggesting a potential motive, according to Fox News.
