After previous names like Adam Driver and Austin Butler were linked for Michael Mann‘s gestating “Heat 2,” a sequel to the landmark heist film from 1995 and based on the recent prequel/sequel novel co-written by Meg Gardiner. Another high-profile name has entered the fray, as Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly now in the mix.
A report from Puck News goes over some behind-the-scenes issues with Warner Bros. balking at the original $200 million budget, but has whittled that down to $170 million and still needs to get that further down. Meanwhile, adding that DiCaprio is said to be interested after having early conversations for an undisclosed lead role.
DiCaprio has been a director-focused actor working with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Baz Lurman, Clint Eastwood, Adam McKay, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and has his Paul Thomas Anderson pic “One Battle After Another” coming out soon.
Once upon a time, Mann and DiCaprio nearly linked up for a James Dean biopic in the 1990s, but needed the actor to age up for that to come together.
If they were able to get DiCaprio attached to “Heat 2,” those budgetary and marketing issues would likely vanish pretty quickly given how much of a draw the actor is to a global audience and this is project that could use a little star power as the original starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, the movie was marketed on the back of the two living legends finally doing scenes together.
We have to assume that DiCaprio might be wanted for the young Neil McCauley part, previously played by De Niro, as the two actors first worked together on the drama “This Boy’s Life” and most recently on “Killers of The Flower Moon.” He could also be wanted for Pacino’s Vincent Hanna, but it is unclear if Driver is still in the mix to play McCauley or may pivot to Hanna.
There is an expectation the “Heat 2” script and novel could deviate a bit given the events take place before the 1995 movie and further in the future, as the globetrotting story is expected to move from the setting out of Los Angeles, with multiple locations in North America (assumed to explore Vincent Hanna’s time as Chicago cop in those prequel events), South America, and Southeast Asia.
https://theplaylist.net/heat-2-leonardo-dicaprio-reportedly-circling-michael-mann-action-sequel-budget-an-issue-for-wb-20250805/