Leonardo DiCaprio Circling Lead Role in ‘Heat 2’

The movie, an adaptation of the sequel novel Mann wrote, is on the move to Amazon MGM label United Artists after Warner Bros. balked at the budget.

(Left) Leonardo DiCaprio at the Los Angeles World Premiere of 'One Battle After Another'. Photo Credit: Jay Clendenin. Copyright: Shutterstock. (Right) Director Michael Mann at the premiere of 'Ferrari.' Photo: Neon.

Preview:

Michael Mann’s ‘Heat 2’ has Leonardo DiCaprio circling a role.
Bradley Cooper and more are also said to have met for the movie.
The film itself is on the move from Warner Bros. to Amazon after budget disagreements.

The last time we checked in on Michael Mann’s plan to make a sequel to his classic 1995 crime thriller ‘Heat’, Adam Driver was the main name likely to show up in it. But things have moved on a little: Leonardo DiCaprio is now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, considering a role.

Heat 2

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And that’s not the only development –– the movie itself has shifted from Warner Bros. (where the studio and director couldn’t come to terms on the budget) to Amazon MGM Studios, which will produce via its United Artists label after winning the chance over the likes of Sony and Paramount.

What’s the story of ‘Heat’?

(L to R) Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 1995's 'Heat.'

Mann’s original film follows Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), who leads a group of professional bank robbers, taking down major scores around Los Angeles. But after their latest heist goes terribly wrong and ends up in homicide, detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) finds a clue and becomes obsessed with the case, determined to stop McCauley’s crew.

Hanna and McCauley are competing against each other in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Although they are on different sides of the law, they still find huge respect, recognition in each other’s troubled personal lives and they understand their competing motivations –– yet they won’t hesitate to do whatever they can to win the battle.

How does ‘Heat 2’ tie in?

(L to R) Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer in 1995's 'Heat.'

‘Heat 2’ (written by Mann alongside Meg Gardiner) in book form tells the story of everything that happens before and after to the principal characters. The book jumps between two time periods, the first following Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer in the original film) as he tries to evade the LAPD and Hanna following the bank robbery gone bad and moves forward into new territory in the tri-border zone and Southeast Asia.

The second storyline takes readers back to Chicago in 1988 when McCauley, Shiherlis and their crew are taking scores on the West Coast, the U.S.–Mexico border, and in Chicago. At the same time, Hanna is cutting his teeth as a rising star in the Chicago police department chasing an ultraviolent gang of home invaders.

The fallout from McCauley’s scores and Hanna’s pursuit cause unexpected repercussions in a parallel narrative.

DiCaprio is reportedly interested in the role of Shiherlis, and the likes of Austin Butler and Bradley Cooper have also had meetings about potential parts. Driver is still apparently part of the mix too –– essentially anyone with a profile is circling this one. But zero deals are in place yet.

Still, at least it seems Mann can finally get the burner lit and get ‘Heat 2’ cooking.