“I Go Deep Into What I Need”: Michael Mann Makes Surprising Admission About His Long-Awaited Action Sequel

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Michael Mann isn’t the first filmmaker people would expect to use AI – many veteran directors have been hesitant about it. But for his upcoming sequel, it seems he might be open to experimenting with the technology when needed.

Fans will at last see Michael Mann revisit the world of his 1995 film *Heat* after years of hints and discussions. While the original movie featured Val Kilmer, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino, the new film will jump across different time periods, showing events both before and after the first story. Mann has stated the film will pick up a day after *Heat* concludes, focusing on Val Kilmer’s character as the sole survivor who must escape the country. The expansive timeline of the new story is so ambitious that Mann is even open to using AI technology to help bring it to life, as reported by *Variety*.

I don’t use technology just for the sake of it. I really dive in when a story or visual style demands it. We might explore aging and de-aging effects in the upcoming movie.

As a movie fan, I’ve been hearing a lot about how AI might take jobs in Hollywood, especially for the incredibly talented people working behind the scenes. But honestly, making movies is *always* about the budget. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to learn that *Heat 2* switched over to Amazon MGM Studios from Warner Bros. – it seems like money was a big factor in that decision.

Making ‘Heat 2’ will be costly, but I think it’s important to do it right and on a large scale. Filming will take place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Paraguay, and potentially Singapore.

Films are made with a specific budget due to production costs, not because of anyone trying to profit excessively. If the cost was lower, I could have filmed it anywhere. The situation is complicated, and I can’t go into all the details surrounding it. We shifted distribution from Warner Brothers to Amazon and United Artists, but the film will definitely be shown in theaters – around 4,000 cinemas in the US, for at least 45 days.

‘Heat 2’ Could Star Leonardo DiCaprio


Warner Bros.

There’s a lot of speculation about who will star in *Heat 2*. Leonardo DiCaprio is now the frontrunner, and appears likely to take the lead role, having reportedly surpassed other actors like Bradley Cooper, Austin Butler, and Adam Driver, who were all previously considered for the part.

While there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, director Michael Mann has strongly suggested that *Heat 2* is moving forward with filming expected to begin soon. If everything stays on track, we could see the movie as early as 2027.

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2025-10-18 19:38