Director Michael Mann has offered a fresh update on Heat 2, the sequel to the 1995 film starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Mann shared that the sequel is likely to feature a new cast instead of relying on CGI to bring back De Niro and Pacino. The upcoming film will be based on Mann and Meg Gardiner’s 2022 novel of the same name, with Mann handling the screenplay.
Mann wrote the script for the first film in 1979, initially intended for a television pilot. The unsuccessful pilot then turned into a television film titled L.A. Takedown. In 1994, Mann again took up the script, this time adapting it into a theatrical feature film.
Heat 2 Director Not Interested To Use CGI To Revive Al Pacino And Robert De Niro
When Michael Mann appeared for an upcoming episode of The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast, one big news he had to share was about the upcoming Heat sequel. However, the original film’s fans might be slightly disappointed to learn that Al Pacino and Robert De Niro will not be reprising their roles in the sequel. He revealed that the new film will serve as both a prequel and a sequel to Heat, unfolding in two timelines, like The Godfather Part II.
Mann clarified his disinterest in using the CGI de-aging tech, which was previously used in films like The Irishman and Indiana Jones 5. According to Mann, the narrative of the new film starts eight years prior to the events of the 1995 film. He further revealed that the casting for the film would be made only after he completes the screenplay, thanking Warner Bros. for their patience. Mann added that he is currently in the midst of writing the script. Mann shared with The Playlist:
“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. 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.”
While Martin Scorsese managed to successfully use the CGI de-aging technique in his film The Irishman, James Mangold failed in parts to get the technique right. Harrison Ford‘s face often looked video gamey in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, not to mention that the CGI scenes were a bit pointless.
The new cast has some big shoes to fill, and reports suggest that Adam Driver could be playing a young Neil McCauley, De Niro’s character (via Deadline). The news came after Driver collaborated with Mann in his latest film Ferrari. Notably, Mann and Meg Gardiner’s book became one of the biggest publications of 2022.
Michael Mann Has No Plans To Make Heat 2 Into A Series
Michael Mann was also asked if he ever had an idea to make Heat 2 into a TV series. This question was based on Mann pitching the Heat script as an NBC television pilot in the late ‘80s. Mann admitted that he had the temptation but resisted it, and decided that he was only interested in telling the story as a feature film. Mann shared:
“Sure, but I’m not interested in doing it as a long form. I’m only interested in doing it as a movie, same scale as the 1995 film.”
Heat was a critical and commercial success, grossing $187 million against a budget of $60 million. It is regarded as one of the most influential films in the genre, although, regrettably, it also served as a bad influence in some cases like the 1997 North Hollywood shootout (via ScreenRant).
Heat is now available for streaming on Netflix.
