Michael Mann opens up about the development of Heat 2, shining a light on the unusual creative process in bringing his long-awaited crime drama sequel to life. Mann’s original 1995 feature starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as an LAPD cop and a thief who share a complicated relationship due to the things they have in common, despite their different paths in life. Alongside Pacino and De Niro, Heat‘s cast featured Val Kilmer, Natalie Portman, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Tom Sizemore, and Jon Voight.
Almost thirty years after the original Heat was released in theaters, Mann discusses the current status of Heat 2‘s preproduction with Collider. While the director confirms that the script is nearing completion, he reveals that it has driven him to have a number of sleepless nights due to his creative process.
I’m finishing the screenplay, and at 2:30 this morning, it woke me up in the middle of the night. So, I’m in the middle of writing the screenplay, and I wound up driving through LA at 3 a.m., which is fantastic, there are no cars, and ended up at Canter’s Delicatessen because that’s the only thing open 24 hours.
This mentality had led to Mann embarking on his own how journeys across nighttime LA early in the morning, bringing him to Carter’s Delicatessen, where he had worked on many of his previous projects and holds a great deal of fond memories, inspiring him to push further with the script’s development.
Then I sat in a booth and wrote there until about 9:00 this morning, trying to finish act four. It was ironic because it’s the same booth I sat in when I wrote the first couple episodes of
Starsky & Hutch
back in the 1970s. Then
The Jericho Mile
and probably some early drafts of
Heat.
I had a favorite waitress named Jeannie who put two sons through medical school waitressing there and playing poker in Gardena. [Laughs] So, sometimes you’re driving through the streets of LA at night, and a coyote runs across it.
What Mann’s Update Means For Heat 2’s Production
Mann Hopes To Enter Production Before A Major Milestone For The Original Movie
Despite Mann having already written a 2022 sequel novel, there is still much to be done for Heat 2‘s pre-production. Though actors including Adam Driver and Austin Butler have been noted to take on major roles in the sequel, Mann has been silent on any casting news, aside from considering using VFX to alter his performers’ ages.
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While a full cast may not currently be attached, the director’s update aligns with past comments on the movie’s status. As Heat draws closer to its 30th anniversary, Mann had previously stated he hoped to begin filming in late 2024 or early 2025 to mark the original movie’s anniversary. As such, should Mann be inching closer to completion, an early 2025 filming date could be on the cards.
Our Thoughts On Mann’s Heat 2 Status Update
The Source Material May Make A Movie Adaptation Complicated
Though the Heat 2 novel may have laid the groundwork for a movie sequel, the nature of the book makes it an ambitious and complicated tale to condense into a single feature film. The book acts as both a sequel and prequel to the original novel with a dual narrative that unfolds in a non-linear format. As such, condensing a novel’s events into a runtime is no easy feat, and could lead to certain elements being omitted or altered.
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Along with some thrilling action sequences and tense moments, the 1995 crime movie Heat is filled with great dialogue and memorable lines.
Nevertheless, Mann’s update does suggest that progress is developing at an ideal pace for the director, despite the impact on his sleep schedule. With work on Heat 2‘s script nearing its end, perhaps the director will be more open to discussing other states of development in the future, including casting updates.
Source: Collider
Heat 2 is the sequel to Michael Man’s 1995 critically-acclaimed crime film, Heat. The movie starred Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer. In 2022, Mann, along with co-author Meg Gardiner, released Heat 2: A Novel. The book follows the characters before and after the events of the 1995 film, and the movie for Heat 2 follows the same premise. In July 2022, Mann confirmed a movie adaptation for Heat 2 was in the works, and in April 2023, Adam Driver was confirmed to play a younger version of De Niro’s character Neil McCauley.