Master filmmaker Michael Mann has started negotiations with Amazon MGM Studios for Heat 2, the long-awaited sequel to his 1995 cult crime action film Heat, which starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The new project will feature a prequel story to the original.
Co-written by Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner, the Heat 2 novel was published in 2022, and Mann has been preparing for its film adaptation ever since. The story focuses on the early years of Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), while also following Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) as he navigates life in Paraguay.
While the first film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Mann and the studio reportedly failed to reach an agreement on the budget for Heat 2, and the project was presented to other studios. The initial budget was planned around $230 million, but it was later reduced to roughly $140 million. Following the breakdown in negotiations, producers such as Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Stuber, and Nick Nesbitt became involved with the film.
So far, actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Austin Butler, Adam Driver, and Bradley Cooper have been linked to the project, though no official offers have been made and no casting agreements are currently in place.
The screenplay for Heat 2 was completed in April, and if Mann finalizes a deal with Amazon MGM Studios, production could begin soon, finally bringing the long-anticipated continuation of one of cinema’s most iconic crime dramas to life.
