Exclusive: Director Michael Mann Drops Jaw-dropping Filming Update for Heat 2

Summary

Director Michael Mann confirms that Heat 2 will be his next movie, after the success of the novel adaptation.

Mann suggests the potential of Adam Driver being cast in Heat 2, commending their previous work together on Ferrari.

Speculation about the sequel to the immensely influential crime drama has persisted since 2016, and it is yet to be determined how the film will tackle the obstacles related to casting.

Director Michael Mann has provided an exciting update on Heat 2, the highly anticipated sequel to his iconic film Heat. Originally released in 1995, this crime drama received both critical acclaim and commercial success, earning $187 million on a $60 million budget. In August 2022, Mann collaborated with crime novelist Meg Gardiner to write a sequel to Heat in the form of a novel. This gripping and intricately plotted story received positive reviews.

Deadline has reported that the esteemed director has now confirmed that Heat 2 will be his next film. During the annual Contenders event, Mann, who recently directed the biographical sports thriller Ferrari, shared that due to the success of the Heat 2 novel, his plan is to adapt it for the big screen. When asked about the possibility of casting Adam Driver, who starred in Ferrari, in the upcoming sequel, Mann coyly responded with "Perhaps. We don’t talk about that yet." You can read his full comments below.

"Yes, Meg Gardiner and I collaborated on the successful novel Heat 2, which coincided with the production of Ferrari. As for my next project, I am considering shooting that. [...]

Maybe. It's not a topic of discussion at the moment. I can say that Adam and I had an exceptional connection while working on Ferrari. Our work ethic is remarkably similar, characterized by a high level of intensity. We genuinely enjoy each other's company and had a delightful artistic collaboration."

Everything We Know About Heat 2

Rumors of a sequel to Mann's highly influential crime drama have been circulating since 2016. That same year, Mann struck a deal to launch Michael Mann Books, with the intention of producing a series of novels in collaboration with various writers. The first novel in the series would be a sequel to Heat, which came six years after Mann initially hinted at it. The story primarily focuses on Chris Shiherlis, the last surviving member of McCauley's group of high-end thieves, as he tries to escape from Los Angeles following the downfall of his crew. Additionally, the novel includes a prequel storyline exploring the background of the original lead characters.

Mann explained that he chose to create the sequel as a novel because casting the actors from the first film presented a challenge. The original cast of Heat was no longer suitable for their earlier roles due to their age, prompting Mann to write a novel that would allow him to revisit the story without the difficulties of casting decisions. Now that the adaptation of the novel for the big screen has been confirmed, it will be intriguing to see which casting decisions Mann ultimately makes.

The release date for Heat 2 is uncertain, making it difficult to predict when the movie will be available to audiences. Currently, there is no specific information about the production timeline. However, due to the scale of the project and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, it is unlikely that viewers will get to see the sequel to Mann's iconic crime drama before 2025.