Will Leonardo DiCaprio save Heat 2?

A standoff between Michael Mann and Warner Bros. would jeopardize the production of the film, too expensive in the eyes of the studio. Unless Leo …

Hot for Heat 2.

The long -awaited suite of Michael Mann’s cult thriller faces serious budgetary difficulties.

According to several sources cited in the American media, the production of Heat 2 gave birth to an show between Michael Mann and Warner Bros. The catch? The filmmaker – and author of the book he wants to bring to the screen – asked more than $ 200 million at the studio to make the film. Warner said no. Mann would have agreed to review his budget downwards, around 170 million. But this sum is still considered too high by the studio’s bosses, Mike de Luca and Pam Abdy, who nevertheless remain motivated to bring the project to succeed … provided you find a partner.

Because if Heat – Released in 1995 – is certainly one of the greatest thrillers in the 7th art, he had brought in “only” $ 187 million at the box office at the time, for a budget of 60 million. With a budget of 170 million, the continuation would need to accumulate $ 400 million in approximately revenue to allow the studio to navigate.

Too risky bet on paper. Warner does not want to go alone. So it is in this context that the script was sent to Apple, for a possible co -production

Above all, a master card could change everything: Leonardo DiCaprio!

The superstar is in discussion with Michael Mann to hold one of the main roles. An involvement of the Oscar -winning actor would be enough to justify the extent of the budget, and could allow the film to see the light of day, according to these same sources. Leo is so popular that he could well save the film on his own …

But to play who? No character name has yet been attributed to DiCaprio, but speculations naturally lean towards a younger version of Neil McCauley – embodied by Robert de Niro in the original film, facing Al Pacino in the role of the determined cop.

Posted in 2022, the novel Heat 2co-written by Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner, both acts as a prequel and immediately in the 1995 feature film. The first part takes place in Chicago in 1988, where Vincent Hanna tracks down a formidable criminal. On the other side, Neil McCauley, Chris Shiheris and Michael Cerrito are preparing their next big blow. Then, the story resumed just after the events of the film, before jumping in the year 2000, while Chris is now working for an international criminal organization.

No release or shooting date is yet planned to Heat 2.