The crew is slowly coming together, as Heat 2 prepares for a long-awaited return to the big screen 
— well, of sorts. Following casting rumours of Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale looks to be next on the list, with Deadline reporting that the Dark Knight star is circling a ‘major role’ in the sequel.
If deals close, it would mark a reunion between Bale and director Michael Mann after their previous stint on 2009’s Public Enemies. Other details about the project, including the roles of each star, remain under wraps, but it’s been suggested that DiCaprio is being eyed to play Chris Shiherlis, portrayed by the late Val Kilmer in the 1995 original.
While plot specifics are also unknown, the filmmaker will adapt the screenplay from his 2022 New York Times-bestselling novel, which was co-written with Meg Gardiner. Eric Roth and Shane Salerno will serve as executive producers, alongside Mann, Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Stuber, and Nick Nesbitt as producers. Filming is set to take place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Paraguay, and possibly, “some parts in Singapore”, according to Mann.
Serving as both a prequel and sequel, Heat 2 covers two timelines — one following a younger Neil McCauley, depicted by de Niro on the big screen, and his crew as they live the high life; the other chronicles Shihirlis’ fate after the events of the film, and his quest to reunite with his former girlfriend, whom Ashley Judd (Olympus Has Fallen) played. It also introduces an all-new antagonist in the form of murderer and rapist Otis Wardell.
The original crime drama focuses on the effect of the conflict between Los Angeles Police Department detective Vincent Hanna (Pacino) and McCauley on their professional relationships and personal lives. It earned US$187 million at the global box office, not adjusted for inflation, and is now considered a seminal work in the genre.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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A'bidah Zaid
