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Monsters’ Cooper Koch reacts to fans wanting him to play alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione

BBG News

As a seasoned observer of human behavior and a keen student of society’s intricate tapestry, I find myself captivated by the enigmatic figure of Luigi Mangione. This man, an Ivy League engineering graduate, has allegedly plunged into the murky depths of crime, targeting none other than a corporate titan in a dramatic act that has sent shockwaves through the financial world.

In a recent statement, Cooper Koch, renowned from Ryan Murphy’s series “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menéndez,” expressed his potential interest in taking on the role of Luigi Mangione in a future project.

When queried about requests from his fans for him to portray the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, who stands accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the actor, aged 28, openly stated that he’s not presently inclined towards taking on another character involved in a killing case.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I find myself drawn towards new experiences, and recently, I’ve been contemplating a shift away from the world of crime and into uncharted territories. This is the thought that guides my next steps, as I share this decision with you today.

Still, he admitted he found the online chatter ‘hilarious’ and ‘can see’ the physical resemblance between him and Mangione.

Previously, Koch had tried out for the part of Erik seven years earlier, both for an episode of Law & Order and a Lifetime movie.

He shared with GQ Australia recently that he made it to the final stages in both competitions, but unfortunately didn’t win. However, he felt compelled to take on the role. He had received the audition for ‘Monsters’ and for the first time, watched the initial trial videos.

After examining the trial of the Menéndez brothers, who were convicted for the murder of their parents in March 1990, Koch expressed deep emotion and instant belief in their account.

At that point, I discovered so many commonalities which sparked a deep fascination within me about the case and their lives. For seven long years, I was constantly recording and rehearsing, trying one after another. Eventually, after all that time, I found the one that seemed destined to unfold.

Currently, there are two notable documentaries under production about Luigi Mangione, as interest in this controversial figure escalates in America.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about upcoming TV projects. Notably, Anonymous Content and Jigsaw Productions have confirmed plans for a series delving into an intriguing case. Meanwhile, the talented Stephen Robert Morse is working on another show based on similar themes. Stay tuned for more details!

In a different wording: Morse, known for directing Netflix’s ‘Amanda Knox’ and ‘How to Rob a Bank’, will present various viewpoints on the murder case, encompassing those of the victim, their family, and Mangione himself.

It will also explore the moral arguments that have sparked heated discourse in the weeks following the shocking assassination in Manhattan on December 4. 

The documentary, according to Morse, will provide insight into the contentious American private healthcare insurance system, offering a deeper understanding of its background.

Morse told Variety that this situation is intricate, bringing forth significant queries regarding vigilante actions, the detrimental consequences of a privatized health care structure, and the propensity for violence in scenarios where non-violent transformation appears unattainable.

Aiming to offer an impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, focusing on various perspectives yet mindful of the deep sorrow and far-reaching consequences this event has had on all parties involved.

‘Every story is multidimensional, and I believe in treating all participants with kindness and fairness. This approach has always been central to my projects,’ he added.

Morse’s production team, known as the Morse Code collective, has reached out to friends, colleagues, associates, and anyone who may have information about Mangione’s tale, asking them to contact us.

On Monday, it was revealed that the production companies Anonymous Content and Jigsaw Productions, led by director Alex Gibney, will produce a documentary.

The show will explore the events that supposedly drove Mangione to commit a murder, and the implications of Brian Thompson’s death for contemporary American culture.

On December 9th, minutes following his meal of a hash brown at the McDonald’s in Altoona, PA, the engineering graduate from an Ivy League university, Mangione, was taken into custody.

Law enforcement officers managed to identify and approach the suspected gunman following a restaurant worker’s recognition of him based on security camera photos that the NYPD had posted online following the Midtown Manhattan shooting incident.

Later on, he faced charges for second-degree murder concerning the death of Thompson, who was 50 years old, around 7 am on a Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel. The executive was scheduled to deliver a speech about finance to prominent figures at the hotel later that same day.

Law enforcement officials tracked down the suspected gunman following a restaurant employee’s identification, as they had been shown his image from security cameras in online posts by the NYPD, following the Midtown Manhattan shooting incident.

It seems that Mangione eluded the police in a chase spanning approximately 280 miles, starting on 6th Avenue in New York City and ending in the smaller Pennsylvania city of Altoona, located about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh.

The gunman left a trail of overt clues about his motive, including ammunition etched with the words ‘delay’ ‘deny’ and ‘depose’ and a bag of Monopoly board game money in his backpack left in Central Park. 

Officially, it’s thought that the markings on the bullets signify the ‘three Ds of insurance’ – strategies employed by major U.S. insurance companies to deny policyholders their insurance claims.

The intent became even more distinctly defined in a manuscript, which the NYPD’s Chief of Detectives, Joseph Kenny, stated as revealing a hostile sentiment towards large corporations. This document was seized from Mangione during his apprehension.

In his three-page statement, Mangione conveyed, ‘I want to be concise as I acknowledge your important role for our nation. To avoid prolonging any potential inquiry, I am openly declaring that I did not collaborate with anyone.’

Mangione explained in the document that he regretted any distress or hardship caused, but it was necessary. In simpler terms, he admitted those creatures deserved what they got.

Additionally, it’s said that Mangione may have possessed an unregistered firearm, thought to be a World War Two era-inspired 9mm pistol similar to the one used in Thompson’s murder. This weapon, as reported by the New York Post, was allegedly a Swiss-made Brugger & Thomet VP9 handgun and came equipped with a silencer.

Mangione will next appear in court in New York at a later date. 

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2024-12-19 02:18

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