Heat 2 gets a worrying update
According to Puck's Matthew Belloni, the upcoming sequel to director Michael Mann's 1995 action movie is facing a money crunch - with the filmmaker locking horns with Warner Bros. over its budget.
Mann's initial budget reportedly came in at over $200 million, though the director was said to have brought it down to $170 million.
Even so, that budget was reportedly still too high for the studio.
As a result, Warner Bros. is said to be exploring other avenues for making the movie, and is supposedly considering partnering with another studio or streamer on the project.
Heat 2 would be based on Mann's 2022 prequel novel of the same name, which follows master thief Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) and detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) across two timelines, exploring the events leading up to and following the explosive heist of the first film.
Belloni has also claimed that Leonardo DiCaprio has spoken with Mann about starring in Heat 2, which he has said may be the factor that pushes the movie across the line.
Heat followed criminal mastermind Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) as he plans one last heist while being relentlessly pursued by dedicated LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Pacino) - leading to a tense game of cat and mouse.
As their lives become increasingly intertwined, both men struggle with the personal costs of their relentless pursuits.
In March, Mann teased he had 'handed in the first draft' of the script for Heat 2.
The 82-year-old director told Vulture: 'I just finished the screenplay and handed in the first draft. In this case, it was Warner Bros. Any more than that, I can't talk about. But it's an exciting project.'
Last November, Mann confirmed he was deep in the process of writing the screenplay, and hoped the project would move forward 'as soon as possible' at Warner Bros.
Speaking with Collider, he said: 'Nothing's definitely going because the sky may fall. But Heat 2 is at Warner Bros. I'm writing the screenplay for them, and hopefully, we will go forward as soon as possible.'
The Collateral director also revealed he had been driving through Los Angeles in the early hours to spark ideas for the sequel.
He said: 'I'm finishing the screenplay, and at 2:30 this morning, it woke me up in the middle of the night.
'So, I'm in the middle of writing the screenplay, and I wound up driving through LA at 3 a.m., which is fantastic, there are no cars, and ended up at [restaurant] Canter's Delicatessen because that's the only thing open 24 hours.'
The filmmaker had also paid tribute to Kilmer - who died in April at the age of 65 from pneumonia following a battle with throat cancer - saying he was 'tremendously sad' to learn the Heat actor had passed away.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: 'While working with Val on Heat, I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val's possessing and expressing character.
'After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Weapons director Zach Cregger 'in talks for Aunt Gladys prequel'
Zach Cregger is reportedly in talks for a Weapons prequel. The 44-year-old filmmaker has made waves with his new original horror movie blockbuster, and fans could be looking forward to a spinoff flick focused on Amy Madigan's already iconic Aunt Gladys character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, studios Warner Bros and New Line are in discussions with the writer and director about an origin story for the enigmatic aunt. Sources told the outlet that a chapter focused on Gladys and her backstory was written for the film, but pulled from the script to streamline the story. While there is no timeline or deals in place, it's reported that the "lost chapter" could be turned into its own full length film. Cregger is keeping busy in the meantime, as he's currently starting work on his Resident Evil reboot. Other potential projects in the pipeline include Henchmen, an original story set in the world of Batman. THR has claimed the film - which is yet to be formally pitched to DC Studios - would focus on a low-level henchmen in Gotham who has a sudden rise in the Gotham crime world after taking out the Caped Crusader "through a stroke of luck". Meanwhile, Cregger has also already penned a script for an original sci-fi film called Flood, which he's also keen to make. However, he's made it clear he's open to exploring more stories based in the world of Weapons. He recently told Variety: "Definitely. I've actually … it's funny you asked that. "I can't help it: I have another idea for something in this world that I'm kind of excited about. "I'm not going to do it next, and I probably won't do it after my next movie, but I do have one and I'd like to see it on the screen one day." In Weapons - which stars Julia Garner, June Diane Raphael, Alden Ehrenreich, Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams and Amy Madigan - 17 third-grade students vanish from their homes in the dead of night, triggering a tense mystery told through multiple perspectives that must unravel the sinister force behind their disappearance. Madigan's character Aunt Gladys is ripe for a prequel, given her mysterious and witchy nature - and even Cregger is unsure about who she actually is in the film. He told Vanity Fair magazine: "I don't know the answer, but I love that I don't know the answer. "I don't need to know the answer. I just need to know that it's all possible.' He came up with two possibilities for the witch's origin story, with one being that she was previously a regular person but now uses spells and evil actions to try and heal herself from a life threatening illness. The other idea is her not being a person at all, but instead being an otherworldly creature trying to mimic a human. Cregger added: "I presented Amy with two options of her origin story. I was like, 'You can pick one of these two'. "They're very different options. And was like, 'You don't have to tell me, but it is either this or that.' "I don't know which one she picked.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
‘About time!': Iconic Aussie ride finally returns
The Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World closed for a $4 million upgrade in January 2023 and all Aussies collectively said, 'ruh-roh.' Because did anyone really go to the park for anything other than this gloriously chaotic, glow-in-the-dark, backward-plummeting tribute to Spooky Island? This wasn't just any rollercoaster. This was a gothic haunted-house-meets-rave that welcomed you with flickering chandeliers, swinging axes, eerie fog and a concerned animatronic Scooby saying 'I'm scared!' Riders would climb aboard ghost-train-style carts before getting hurled backwards in the dark and flung around tight corners at speeds of up to 45km/h. The flashing strobe scares turned it into a full-blown sensory assault in the best possible way. Now, after what will be nearly three years in hibernation, the reimagined ride is expected to reopen late 2025. One Instagram user summed up our feelings perfectly with a Titanic-inspired remark: 'It's been 84 years.' Warner Bros. confirmed the ride is getting a major mechanical overhaul, including an upgraded braking system (switching to magnetic brakes for a smoother ride), a new operating system, and a complete refresh of the ride vehicles. There's even a tester seat being installed at the entrance, which means you can try before you ride. It's a big move for the Gold Coast theme park, but considering more than 21.9 million people have ridden the coaster since it first opened in 2002, it's not surprising they're investing in keeping the fan-favourite alive for another generation. Still, the long closure hasn't gone down smoothly with everyone. One thrillseeker admitted bluntly when it initially closed, 'My day is ruined,' while a mum, who had booked a family trip for February 2023, said her kids were 'devastated after a long two-year wait.' Their disappointment is understandable, but many have pointed out that safety comes first. And that's not just a throwaway line. Queensland's theme park industry has been under intense scrutiny in recent years, particularly after the infamous 2016 Dreamworld Thunder River Rapid s tragedy that claimed four lives, and more recently, the 2022 Doomsday Destroyer incident where more than a dozen riders were left dangling upside down 21 metres in the air after the Movieworld ride came to a sudden stop. It was only for a minute and 54 seconds, but for those stuck, including young children, it felt like much longer. Riders reported headaches, bloodshot eyes and panic, with one woman saying, 'We were just left upside down with no explanation.' Understandably, many vowed to never step foot in a theme park again. The ride has since been decommissioned. And Scooby didn't escape the crossfire. Four passengers were rescued from the Spooky Coaster in 2022 after they were trapped mid-air for 90 minutes due to a rider trying to take off an item of clothing. A Village Roadshow Theme Parks spokesperson said the ride was automatically triggered to stop. 'The guests on-board were completely safe throughout the process and our expert team were in constant communication with them.' So while the revamp may be inconvenient, for most, it's actually a reassuring sign that the park is taking safety seriously. As one commenter put it, 'People are missing the point. They have to redo and upgrade rides in order to keep you safe. Yes, it might be an inconvenience for your trip, but in the long run it's probably saving lives.' While the coaster has been resting in its creepy little crypt, Movie World has introduced new attractions. The Wizard of Oz precinct opened in late 2023, bringing with it two new family coasters themed around Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road, and the park also launched high-speed spinning thrill ride The Flash: Speed Force in 2024. Other favourites like Wild West Falls, the Road Runner Rollercoaster, and Justice League 3D also underwent refurbishments. But for many, nothing quite compares to Scooby. One nostalgic fan shared, 'It was the first rollercoaster I went on as a kid that made me stop being afraid of them. I loved it so much I went on it again.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Max Minghella will star in Clayface
Max Minghella is in talks to star in Clayface. The Handmaid's Tale actor is set to join Tom Rhys Harries - who takes the title role in James Watkins' upcoming movie - and Naomi Ackie in the comic book movie centred around the Batman villain, though Deadline reports he hasn't yet closed a deal. It is currrently unclear what role Max is in line to play. The body horror thriller is focused on the supervillain and his appearance-altering powers, with comparisons to the feel and structure of 1986 classic The Fly. That film followed a relationship between a scientist (Jeff Goldblum) fused with the DNA of a fly, and the journalist (Geena Davis) writing about the discovery. For Clayface, a B-movie actor's life is changed for ever when his face gets disfigured by a gangster. He desperately seeks out a scientist for help, and while the experiment is initially a success, things take a sinister turn. The film is slated to shoot at Warner Bros. Leavesden studio in the UK later this year as it marches towards its September 2026 release date. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clayface will be a 'stripped down movie', with a budget of approximately $40 million. DC Studios boss and Superman director James Gunn recently opened up on his vision for the wider cinematic universe, and insisted there can't be a set style or genre across each film. He told CBS Mornings: "We've got Clayface, which is a totally different thing. Although it's in the same universe, it's a complete horror film. "That's one of the things we want to do. There's not a company style. It's not like every movie is going to be like Superman. "The artists — the directors and the writers — each one will bring their own sense to it… "That's what we want to bring to the films because we don't want people to get bored. We want to invigorate people." Gunn and fellow DC Studios chief Peter Safran will produce Clayface, along with Lynn Harris and The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves, while Chantal Nong will executive produce. Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan wrote the first version of the screenplay, with Hossein Amini pitching with additional drafts.
