Michael Mann Confirms Heat 2 with DiCaprio, Bale; Heat 3 Also Planned

Michael Mann’s long‑awaited sequel Heat 2 is moving into production. The film will star Leonardo DiCaprio as Chris Shiherlis and Christian Bale as Vincent Hanna, with Stephen Graham and Adam Driver in discussion for supporting roles. The screenplay, reduced from roughly 190 pages, fits a blockbuster budget estimated at $150‑$165 million. Filming is scheduled to begin in California in November, supported by a $40 million California tax credit.

Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists are backing the project, with Sony handling overseas distribution. The studio is already planning a third instalment, Heat 3, to extend the franchise beyond a single sequel. Amazon hopes Heat 2 can generate $500 million worldwide, justifying early work on Heat 3 and related ancillary products. Production credits include Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt as producers.

The storyline draws from Mann’s 2022 novel co‑written with Meg Gardiner, which functions as both a prequel and a sequel to the 1995 original, and the sequel’s plot will blend flashbacks with present‑day action.