New Character Details for Michael Mann’s Heat 2 Reportedly Reveal Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale’s Roles

Michael Mann‘s Heat 2 is expected to begin production soon, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, Stephen Graham, and Adam Driver reportedly set to star in the film.

Set before and after Heat, Heat 2 follows fugitive Chris Shiherlis as he flees Los Angeles while detective Vincent Hanna hunts him down. Flashing back to their violent pasts, the story tracks Neil McCauley’s crew and Hanna’s pursuit across Chicago, Los Angeles, and beyond in a sprawling tale of loyalty, obsession, and survival.

Recently, insider Daniel Richtman shared new character details for Heat 2:

• Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly in talks to play Chris Shiherlis.
• Christian Bale is reportedly in talks to play Vincent Hanna, the character originally portrayed by Al Pacino.
• Stephen Graham is reportedly in talks to play Neil McCauley, the character originally portrayed by Robert De Niro.
• Adam Driver is reportedly interested in playing the film’s main antagonist, Otis Lloyd Wardell, a dangerous and psychopathic criminal who operates in Chicago. The character plays a major role in linking the various timelines and locations featured throughout the story.

Filming is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with production expected to wrap in March 2027. According to Production List, the film’s shooting locations include Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Amazon MGM Studios is said to have secured Heat 2 last year after Warner Bros. stepped away from the project during budget talks. Mann reportedly pushed for more than $200 million to make the film.

Michael Mann will direct Heat 2 from a screenplay he wrote, based on the #1 New York Times bestselling novel he co-authored with Meg Gardiner. Published in 2022, Heat 2 tells a story that unfolds before and after the events of Heat. It dives into Vincent Hanna’s Chicago days, Neil McCauley’s earlier criminal career, and Chris Shiherlis’ journey following the bank-heist finale.

The film will be produced by Mann, Jerry Bruckheimer of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and United Artists’ Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt. Eric Roth and Shane Salerno will serve as executive producers, while Amazon MGM Studios will distribute the film in theaters.

The release date for Heat 2 has not yet been announced.