The Ferrari director has confirmed that Heat 2 is definitely on the way and production is set to begin in 2024.
Heat is, without a question, Michael Mann’s best, most acclaimed film. Featuring powerhouse performances from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, it’s a timeless classic of crime cinema. Mann has long been planning a sequel for the film, and there has been much speculation about whether one will ever materialise – and if so, when.
In 2022, Mann announced Heat 2 as a novel and in 2023, we finally got confirmation that a film was also on the way. The novel takes place one day after the events of the original film, but events also flash back and forward, spanning several years.
Mann has just released his latest film, Ferrari, into the world. The film, which stars Adam Driver as racing driver and automotive entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari, has been met with mixed reviews, but Mann has spoken highly of Driver as an actor and, unsurprisingly, Driver is rumoured to star in Heat 2 as a younger version of De Niro’s Neil McCauley.
Talking to the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Mann recently confirmed that Heat 2 is all set to film in 2024. He’s currently finishing off the script, which he’s described as both a sequel and a prequel.
Mann also commented on the legacy of the original film, which was released in 1995.
“I could delude myself into thinking that the whole world is familiar with [Heat], but when you check out its prominence in home video for over 20 years, this thing really has legs. People are still watching it, people are still talking about it. It’s a brand. It’s kind of a Heat universe, in a way. And that certainly justifies a very large, ambitious movie.“
He’s not wrong. Heat remains one of the most influential crime films, and Christopher Nolan has noted it as a direct influence for The Dark Knight.
No cast or release date for Heat 2 have been announced yet, but Warner Bros. is backing the project. We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
