Summary

• Heat 2 is Michael Mann's anticipated sequel to his classic 1995 film, exploring the origins of its iconic characters.
• The Heat 2 novel delves into the intricate backstories of Hanna and McCauley, setting the stage for a storytelling masterpiece.
• Casting rumors swirl around potential young actors to portray Heat 2's characters, with Adam Driver possibly being cast in the lead.

For the past three decades, Michael Mann's Heat has captivated audiences worldwide and influenced the films of countless other filmmakers. Like every other entry in Mann's one-of-a-kind filmography, Heat has never had a sequel; however, recent developments may finally cause this to change. In 2022, the director released his first novel, Heat 2, and now, he is preparing to translate that work to the big screen.

As Heat 2 enters pre-production, many fans of the original film are left asking the same question: what is Heat without Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Val Kilmer? After all, much of the film's reputation is tied up with the fact that it was the first movie ever to feature Pacino and De Niro sharing screen time. That said, the long-awaited sequel is set to feature several new actors, as the film will purportedly alternate between the time before Heat and the events that transpired shortly after.

Where Did Michael Mann Get the Original Idea for Heat?

For Michael Mann, Art Imitates Life

Before it ever hit movie theaters, Michael Mann had been thinking about the idea that turned into Heat for decades. More specifically, he had become enthralled by the dynamic between the film's two protagonists, LAPD detective Vincent Hanna (played by Al Pacino) and professional thief Neil McCauley (played by Robert De Niro). This resulted from a meeting Mann had in the 1970s when Chicago detective Chuck Adamson planted the seed of the idea in the filmmaker's head.

Mann's creative juices started flowing after Adamson told the director about a time he once got coffee with the real-life McCauley. Afterward, he and the thief developed a mutual respect for one another. However, this story took a tragic turn when Adamson's squad later killed McCauley during a confrontation on the L.A. city streets. Mann jotted the idea down and eventually developed it into his 1989 T.V. movie, L.A. Takedown. Six years later, he'd re-write the story on a much grander scale and turn it into the sprawling Los Angeles heist film now known as Heat.

What Made Michael Mann Want to Return to Heat?

The Story Never Left Him

In the nearly thirty years since its initial release, Heat has become one of the most popular crime dramas of all time, with an obsessive fanbase that includes the film's director. Much like how the germ of the story originally captured his imagination, Heat has never strayed far from Michael Mann's thoughts. In early 2020, Mann kept himself busy during quarantine by writing his first novel, Heat 2 — a sprawling book that served as both a prequel and a sequel to his hit film.

Working alongside his co-author, Meg Gardiner, who had previously written thrillers like China Lake and The Dark Corners of the Night, Michael Mann spent countless hours meticulously researching and writing what he hoped would read like "a really good screenplay in narrative form." His research seemed to pay off, as much like the original film, Heat 2 is an expansive crime thriller that aligns entirely with Mann's filmmaking.

What Will the Adaptation of Heat 2 Be About?

Fans can Expect Both Hanna and McCauley's Stories to Expand

The Heat 2 novel cuts back and forth between one storyline set in 1988 and another that details the direct aftermath of the original film's events. While both Heat and Heat 2 have no shortage of compelling characters, Mann's obsession with this story hinges on the relationship between Hanna and McCauley, two men who are perfect adversaries to one another.

As such, Heat 2 further deepens this bond by revealing that Hanna and McCauley were circling one another following a heist the latter pulled in Chicago in the late 80s. Meanwhile, in the post-Heat setting, Hanna learns more about McCauley's past, unearthing further redeeming qualities about the man.

The prequel material is primarily devised from the detailed backstories Mann developed for each of Heat's characters before shooting the original film. Mann does this for every film he's ever made, and while some of those details found perch in Heat, most of them have been saved for Heat 2. The book features sequences that include not only McCauley and Hanna's childhoods but also their deployment during the Vietnam War and the eventual friendship that emerged between McCauley and Chris Shiherlis, played by Val Kilmer.

These details expertly lead from one setpiece to another during Heat 2's page count, like McCauley planning a heist near the Mexican border. They're also used to directly explain some of the more iconic moments from the first film, such as McCauley's unforgiving "30-seconds" mantra. Therefore, they're likely to show up in some form when Mann translates his story from the page to the screen.

Who Will Be Heat 2's Villain?

Waingro Has a Spiritual Successor

The cat-and-mouse game between Hanna and McCauley takes up much of Heat's runtime, but one of the film's many subplots includes a serial killer named Waingro, played by Kevin Gage. This monstrous individual went around murdering sex workers in his free time, and Heat kept its audience rooting equally for Hanna and McCauley by pitting both men against Waingro, the embodiment of pure evil, only for McCauley to be the one to take him out.

In light of Heat 2's announcement, this storyline begs the question: who will Waingro's successor be in the sequel? According to Mann's novel, this successor comes in the form of a man named Otis Wardell, who commits a series of home invasion robberies, assaults, and murders throughout the story. Much like Waingro, this agent of chaos gets off on violence, and at various points in Heat 2, it's up to both Hanna and McCauley to stop him. Ultimately, Waingro is the character that ties together the disparate timelines of the sequel's events, meaning he will be crucial to the upcoming adaptation.

Who Will Star as a Young McCauley in Heat 2?

It Could Be Someone as Intense as the Film's Director

Now that Micheal Mann has confirmed that Heat 2 is on its way, the topic naturally turns to who will portray the film's characters. Mann has already suggested one such actor he'd like to see in the part of a young Neil McCauley in his Ferrari lead-star, Adam Driver.

Some media outlets took Mann's words as confirmation that Driver had already signed on for Heat 2. As of this writing, he has not, and Mann later clarified to Deadline that the director is simply considering Driver for the role, saying, "Let me put it this way. Adam [Driver] and I got along like a house on fire. We have the same work ethic, which is pretty intense. We like each other, and we had a great time working together artistically."

Who Could Star as a Young Hanna in Heat 2?

Pacino and Heat Fans Everywhere Have Thoughts