Michael Mann is telling Variety’s Clayton Davis that he has plans for “Heat 2” to shoot in 2024, and has been putting the final touches on the script that he calls both a “prequel and sequel.” So, whether you like it or not, this sequel is definitely coming.
This latest update comes as Mann’s “Ferrari” continues to struggle at the box-office. Mann’s $95 million passion project has grossed only $20 million worldwide, and barely garnered any awards buzz. If you ask me, a real shame since “Ferrari,” although not his best work, is still a sumptuous and, at times, thrilling arthouse film.
Last year, Mann told Variety that the fate of “Heat 2” could very well rest on whether “Ferrari” did well at the box-office. Clearly, that didn’t seem to matter — and, why would it? 1995’s “Heat” has amassed a massive following over the years, to the point where it could practically be deemed an IP.
A few weeks ago, The Guardian had reported that “Heat” was definitely happening. In fact, it was going to be Mann’s next film.
The Film Stage echoed the UK paper with their own reporting, via “strong sources,” and that Warner Bros. was ready to allocate a big budget for the anticipated sequel. They added that almost every hot young star in the biz was trying to get cast in Mann’s film — they include Channing Tatum and Jeremy Allen White, who have apparently made their interest actively known.
We already know that Adam Driver will most likely take on the role of Neil MacCauley (originally played by Robert De Niro). Other actors who were rumoured to have been offered roles in the film include Al Pacino, Austin Butler, Ana de Armas.
“Heat 2” is an adaptation of Mann’s own published novel, which became a New York Times #1 best-seller in August 2022 — it’s a continuation of the “Heat” saga. The setting takes place both before and after the original, utilizing flashbacks in the same vein as in The Godfather Part II, and largely focusing on Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) and Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer).