Heat 2's Expensive Budget Causes Setback, Leonardo DiCaprio In Talks To Star In Sequel

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 2 was announced to 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.

According to Puck‘s “What I’m Hearing” newsletter by Matthew Belloni, Heat 2‘s expensive budget has reportedly caused a setback with Warner Bros. The studio is interested in producing the movie, but Mann’s original budget exceeded $200 million, and he’s since reduced it to around $170 million, but that’s still more than the studio is willing to spend.

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

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer hold big guns on the poster for 1995's Heat

Despite entering development in 2022, Heat 2 has 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 movies haven’t performed as well at the box office, with Blackhat (2015) bombing, and Ferrari (2023) grossing only $43 million against its $95 million budget. Warner Bros. is open to co-financing Heat 2 with 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

Robert De Niro on the phone and scowling as Neil McCauley in Heat

DiCaprio is just the latest big name that has reportedly been linked to Heat 2. In addition to Driver in discussions for a young Neil McCauley, additional casting rumors suggest Pacino might reprise his role as Vincent Hanna, while Austin 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.

Source: Puck