Michael Mann is telling the L.A. Times he’s close to finishing the “Heat 2” screenplay and that it could potentially “begin shooting at the end of this year or beginning of 2025”.
This past March, Mann told Radio France that he was in pre-production mode on “Heat 2” and that, judging by the stack of papers on his desk, it would “definitely” be his next film. He has a few other projects percolating as well, including a remake of the Korean crime-thriller “Veteran,” but that one’s still in the very early stages of development.
Meanwhile, last year, Mann told Variety’s Clayton Davis the plan was for “Heat 2” to shoot in 2024 and that he was putting the finishing touches on the script which he described as both a “prequel and sequel.” There was also a Production Weekly listing that stated an October/November 2024 date was planned.
This latest update comes as Mann’s $95 million “Ferrari” struggled at the box-office, only grossing $45 million worldwide, and garnering no awards buzz. If you ask me, a real shame since “Ferrari,” although not his best work, was still a sumptuous and, at times, thrilling arthouse film.
Mann has stated that there would be time jumps in the sequel …
It’s going to be a combination [of CG and makeup]. And so, it won’t be [Robert De Niro] and Al [Pacino] playing McCauley and Hanna,” explained Mann. “And it actually starts eight years earlier than the movie. It starts in 1988, and then it’s gonna jump to 2000. But I don’t really know who to cast until I’ve actually written the screenplay, but I’m in the middle of writing the screenplay right now. And Warner Bros. have been very patient.
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 are rumored to have been cast include Austin Butler and Ana de Armas.
When asked by the L.A. Times about Driver and Butler’s casting, Mann says “I can’t talk about that.”
“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).
Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.