Heat 2‘s filming start window has been revealed by producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The upcoming film is based on Michael Mann’s 2022 novel of the same name, which acts as both a prequel and a sequel to his 1995 Los Angeles crime saga and follows detective Vincent Hanna and criminals Neil McCauley and Chris Shiherlis in multiple locations around the world.
During an interview with HeyUGuys, producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that filming on Heat 2 “hopefully starts in August.” Asked about Leonardo DiCaprio’s reported involvement, Bruckheimer said, “Yeah, Leonardo. That’s a rumor. That’s the key element there. One of the key elements. Michael Mann’s the other one.” Watch the portion of the video below:
If shooting starts in August 2026, which Bruckheimer says is the hope, a 2027 release for Heat 2 seems likely, which Michael Mann has said several times is the aim.
The film adaptation of Heat 2 was formally announced in 2023, but has faced several setbacks over the years. In October 2025, the sequel switched studios from Warner Bros., which was unable to settle on a budget for the project, to United Artists, a part of Amazon MGM Studios, which settled on a $150 million budget.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also rumored to be in discussions for a role which, as Bruckheimer says, could be the key to getting the movie made. However, during an interview with Deadline, DiCaprio all but confirmed his casting in Heat 2. Christian Bale is also reportedly playing a major role in the movie.
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer hold big guns on the poster for 1995’s Heat
Other actors reportedly in talks for roles in the film include Adam Driver as a young Neil McCauley (the role originally played by Robert De Niro), Austin Butler as Chris Shiherlis (originally played by Val Kilmer), and Bradley Cooper.
Further casting rumors include Al Pacino reprising his role as Vincent Hanna and Ana de Armas playing the character of Elisa, a young Neil’s girlfriend. Jeremy Allen White and Channing Tatum were also reportedly vying for parts in the film.
Currently, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the cast, though it should all be sorted out before Heat 2 hopefully starts filming in August 2026.
