"Finished screenplay": Michael Mann submits first draft of 'Heat 2' script to Warner Bros
Mar 31, 2025
Washington DC [US], March 31 : Director Michael Mann, who is currently working on the sequel to the Robert De Niro and Al Pacino starrer 'Heat', has shared a major update about the film.
After confirming late last year that he was close to finishing the screenplay for Heat 2, Mann has now officially submitted the first draft to Warner Bros., according to Deadline.
In a Q&A with Vulture, Mann, known for his distinctive filmmaking style, said, "I just finished the screenplay and handed in the first draft. In this case, it was Warner Brothers. Any more than that, I can't talk about. But it's an exciting project" as quoted by Deadline.
The plot details of the highly anticipated sequel remain undisclosed.
Released in 1995, Heat is considered one of Mann's best works. The film follows a cat-and-mouse game between a criminal mastermind (played by De Niro) planning one final job and a dedicated police lieutenant (played by Pacino) struggling with personal issues. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, they develop a mutual respect. The movie also starred Val Kilmer, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman, and Jon Voight.
In December, Mann hinted at another project he hopes to make--a film about the 1968 Battle of Hue, one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. During the battle, South Vietnamese and U.S. troops fought for a month to recapture the city.
The Heat sequel has been in development for some time, but Mann revived interest in it with his 2022 crime novel Heat 2, co-written with author Meg Gardiner. The book serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the 1995 film.
Mann's most recent film was Ferrari, starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley. Speaking about Cruz's performance, Mann previously told The Hollywood Reporter, "She is completely self-confident. She has a primitive, almost tribal sense of knowing a thing when she knows something you can't shake."
Mann's other notable films include Thief, The Insider, Manhunter, Miami Vice, and more.
