‘Heat 2’ to Be Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios

Michael Mann is set to bring Heat 2 to the screen, with Amazon MGM Studios in talks to acquire the project from Warner Bros., ensuring that his adaptation of the sequel to the film he wrote as a novel will be made into a feature film. Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Stuber, and Nick Nesbitt have boarded the project as executive producers, while Mann is set to direct the film.

No word on who has been cast in the movie has been announced, or when cameras would theoretically roll up, but it has been reported that Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Driver, Bradley Cooper and Austin Butler are circling potential roles in the sequel. However, no concrete offers have been made for anyone rumored to be a part of the project.

The book, co-written by Mann and Meg Gardiner, is both a prequel and a sequel to the movie, spanning multiple timelines. The first follows a young Neil McCauley, played by Robert De Niro in the film, and his crew as they pull off heists and live large, while another storyline reveals what happened to Chris Shiherlis, the character portrayed by Val Kilmer in the 1995 film.

Warner Bros. pulled out of the project after they deemed the sequel too financially risky, as Mann is known for blowing productions past their budgets. Amazon is now trying to establish strict guardrails that will prevent it from doing so. The book tells an incredibly ambitious story, spanning multiple locations and time periods, which could prove challenging to translate into a film. However, Mann has been meeting with several actors for months, with many high-profile names wanting to be a part of what will likely be an event to look out for.

Source: THR