Michael Mann Confirms "Heat 2" As His Next Movie

Ferrari director Michael Mann confirmed his plans to shoot a sequel to his acclaimed 1995 crime drama epic "Heat" as his next project.

Speaking with Deadline at their Contenders London event over the weekend, while promoting his latest movie, "Ferrari", the director revealed he will begin shooting once the press campaign for the Italian car tycoon biopic surrounding the life of Enzo Ferrari came to an end. 

“Yes. Meg Gardiner and myself wrote the novel Heat 2, which came out right when we were shooting Ferrari. It did very well. I plan to shoot that next.” 

Mann's star in Ferrari, Adam Driver, was linked earlier in the year with the lead role in Heat 2, with Deadline claiming he was locked in talks to play the young Neil McCauley, the career criminal who met a grisly end at the conclusion of the original film. 

Mann was asked about the prospects of working with Driver once more and was carefully noncommittal, particularly given the delicate stage that the SAG-AFTRA strike is currently sitting. 

What Is 'Heat 2' About? 

Last year, Mann dedicated his time to crafting a 500-page novel, co-authored with Gardiner, titled "Heat 2." 

The sprawling novel served the dual purpose of being both a prequel and a sequel to the original Heat story. Mann's deep affection for the world he created shines through, and this is evident in the novel's warm reception.

"Heat 2" delves into the prequel storyline, offering readers insight into the early days of Robert De Niro's career criminal character, Neil McCauley, who was the mastermind behind the crew in the initial film. Simultaneously, the novel acts as a sequel, continuing the gripping tale of Al Pacino's character, Vincent Hanna, the relentless LAPD lieutenant determined to track down McCauley amidst the labyrinthine streets of Los Angeles.

The storyline takes readers back to Chicago in 1988 when McCauley, Chris Shiherlis (played by Val Kilmer in the original), and their high-line crew were taking scores on the West Coast, the U.S.-Mexico border, and in Chicago.

At the same time, Hanna is rising through the ranks as a prospective star in the Chicago Police Department, tasked with chasing an ultraviolent gang of home invaders.