A surprising twist in the case of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, has caught the internet’s attention. After Mangione’s arrest on December 9, social media users quickly flooded platforms with comments about the suspect’s striking resemblance to actor Dave Franco. The internet, as it often does, wasted no time making the case a viral sensation.
Fans Want Dave Franco as Luigi Mangione
Fans began to imagine what a TV series based on the real-life events might look like, and many expressed a desire to see Dave Franco play the lead role of Mangione. This sparked a flurry of tweets, memes, and jokes calling on famous director Ryan Murphy—known for adaptations of real-life stories like American Horror Story and Eat, Pray, Love—to create a series. One Twitter user wrote, “Can’t wait to see Dave Franco play Luigi Mangione in whatever TV series Ryan Murphy is currently creating,” while others joked about a fierce competition between Franco, Milo Manheim, and Jacob Elordi to land the role.
The internet’s fascination with casting Franco has only grown as more details of the case have emerged. Mangione, a 26-year-old with a background in computer science, is linked to a prominent Baltimore family with ties to nursing homes and country clubs. Reports also suggest that he founded a video game development club at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite his family’s shock and devastation, the memes and casting suggestions continue to dominate social media.
While the case is still developing, the viral trend surrounding Dave Franco’s potential portrayal of Luigi Mangione has become an unusual blend of true crime and pop culture. Fans eagerly wait to see if this viral moment ever turns into a screen adaptation, though Ryan Murphy’s track record of turning shocking real-life events into TV gold only fuels the internet’s enthusiasm.
