Amazon Officially Greenlights ‘Heat 2’ as Top Stars Circle Key Roles

Michael Mann’s long-awaited follow-up to his 1995 crime classic Heat is officially moving forward with Amazon.

United Artists, part of Amazon MGM Studios, is in talks to take over the project after Warner Bros. passed on it earlier this year due to disagreements over the budget. Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, known for his work on action blockbusters like Top Gun, and Scott Stuber, former head of Netflix Films, have joined the project along with Mann and Stuber’s producing partner Nick Nesbitt.

Heat 2 will act as both a prequel and a sequel, covering multiple timelines. One story thread focuses on a younger Neil McCauley and his crew as they carry out daring heists. Another follows Shihirlis, played by Val Kilmer in the original, as he searches for his former girlfriend, originally portrayed by Ashley Judd.

Parts of the story will take place in a dangerous South American region. The film will also feature a new villain named Otis Wardell, described as a brutal criminal even more ruthless than anyone in the first movie.

Budget discussions were a major hurdle in the project’s development. Sources say the initial budget proposal was $230 million, which Mann reduced to $170 million. Warner Bros. reportedly offered $135–140 million, though some say it would have gone up to $150 million if Mann agreed to a third installment.

Mann’s reputation for going over budget, the sprawling locations from Chicago to South America, and the large cast of characters made studios cautious.

Despite that, Mann has reportedly been meeting with actors for months, and many high-profile stars are interested. One source said, “Everyone you can think of has met on this.”

Reportedly, Leonardo DiCaprio, Austin Butler, Adam Driver, and Bradley Cooper are all circling roles.

The original Heat, released in 1995, starred Al Pacino as an LAPD detective and Robert De Niro as career criminal Neil McCauley, with Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, and Tom Sizemore in supporting roles.

The film focused on the tense conflict between Pacino and De Niro’s characters and the impact on their personal lives. Mann first wrote the script in 1979, based on the real-life pursuit of criminal Neil McCauley by Chicago police officer Chuck Adamson.

The story was initially made into a 1989 TV film called L.A. Takedown before being adapted into the feature film. Heat grossed $187 million on a $60 million budget and has become one of the most influential crime films of all time.

Heat 2 was first announced in July 2022, but its future was uncertain until now. With Amazon and top producers on board, the sequel seems set to become a major cinematic event.

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