The title manganese(III) phthalocyaninate (Pc) complex, viz. iodo[phthalocyaninato(2-)]manganese(III) hemi(diiodine), [Mn(C32H16N8)I].0.5I2 or (MnPcI)2.I2, was obtained from the reaction of pure powdered manganese with phthalonitrile under oxidation conditions of iodine vapour. The phthalocyaninato(2-) residue is not strictly planar and the Mn atom is five-coordinate, having distorted square-pyramidal geometry and residing 0.262 (2) A above the plane defined by the four isoindole N atoms of the phthalocyaninate macrocycle. The neutral I2 molecule bridges the iodo[phthalocyaninato(2-)]manganese(III) molecules, forming a centrosymmetric dimeric structure.