The long-awaited sequel to the crime drama classic Heat is officially moving forward, with Leonardo DiCaprio eyed to take over the role originated by Val Kilmer.
For the last few years, there have been rumors that Michael Mann has been working on a follow-up to the beloved 1995 movie following the release of the Heat 2 novel. Fans have been waiting to see whether it will move forward, and most especially, who they will cast to take over the main roles, or if they'll bring back some of the cast members from the first one.
Is Heat 2 Officially Happening?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Heat 2 is officially moving forward after the project landed at United Artists, a division of Amazon MGM Studios.
Warner Bros., which made the first film, allowed the producers to have the project shopped to other studios after they were unable to agree with Mann on the budget. Jerry Bruckheimer is also on board to serve as one of the producers.
The project has attracted a lot of interest from numerous A-list stars around Hollywood. DiCaprio is currently being eyed to take over the role of Chris Shiherlis, which was originated by Kilmer in the first movie.
Austin Butler, Adam Driver, and Bradley Cooper have also emerged on the list of the actors that Mann has met with for potential roles in the movie. So far, none of them have been offered a role or signed any deal to join the project.
It remains unknown whether Robert De Niro or Al Pacino will be invited back to the film. However, considering the ages of the characters in the story, it might be unlikely that they will reprise their iconic roles.
What is Heat 2 About?
In case you're not familiar with the novel, Heat 2 is both a prequel and a sequel to the original movie. It's an expansion of the world and an all-new story centering on the beloved characters.
Seven years before the events of the film, Neil McCauley, Chris Shiherlis, and their crew are taking scores on the West Coast, the US-Mexican border, and Chicago. Driven, daring, they’re pulling in money and living vivid lives. Chicago homicide detective Vincent Hanna—a man unreconciled with his history—is following his calling, the pursuit of armed and dangerous men into the dark and wild places, hunting an ultraviolent gang of home invaders.
Meanwhile, in the events after the first film, Shiherlis is holed up in Koreatown, wounded, half delirious, and desperately trying to escape LA. Hanna is determined to capture or kill Shiherlis, the last survivor of McCauley’s crew, before he ghosts out of the city.
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