Heat 2’s expensive budget reportedly caused a setback, and on top of that, Leonardo DiCaprio is in talks to star in the sequel. Written and directed by Michael Mann, the 1995 crime drama follows a game of cat and mouse between veteran LAPD detective Vincent Hanna (played by Al Pacino) and career criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro).
Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films of its genre,Heat 2was announcedto be in development in 2022, based on the bestselling prequel/sequel novel of the same name that Mann co-authored, with Adam Driver in talks to play a young Neil McCauley. While Mann has made much progress penning the screenplay, the sequel has yet to start shooting.
In an unexpected development, Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly spoken with Mann about potentially starring, and if he commits, he could be the key to getting the project greenlit.
What This Means For Heat 2
Despite entering development in 2022,Heat 2has yet to start shooting, as Mann is currently engaged in a tense budget battle with Warner Bros. The original movie was made on a $60 million budget and grossed more than $187 million at the box office in 1995, which, when adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to around $400 million today.
However,Michael Mann’s more recent movieshaven’t performed as well at the box office, withBlackhat(2015) bombing, andFerrari(2023) grossing only $43 million against its $95 million budget.Warner Bros. is open to co-financingHeat 2with another studio or a streaming platform, and Mann’s team has reportedly shared the script with Apple for a possible collaboration.
Our Take On Leonardo DiCaprio Starring In Heat 2
DiCaprio is just the latest big name that has reportedly been linked toHeat 2. In addition to Driver in discussions for a young Neil McCauley, additional casting rumors suggest Pacino might reprise his role as Vincent Hanna, whileAustin Butler has been linked to Chris Shiherlis, the role played by Val Kilmer in the original movie.
Ana de Armas has also been linked to the character of Elisa, a young Neil’s girlfriend. Meanwhile, Jeremy Allen White and Channing Tatum were also reportedly vying for parts in the film. It’s unclear who some of these actors would be playing, but if many of them commit,Heat 2’s cast could be just as great as the original movie.
