Michael Mann gives an update on Heat 2: 'I plan to shoot that next'

Michael Mann is ready to Heat things up one more time.

The veteran writer-director said in a recent panel with Deadline Hollywood that he intends to make Heat 2 — a follow-up to his 1995 crime cinema classic that was first published in book form — as his next movie.

"Meg Gardiner and myself wrote the novel Heat 2, which came out right when we were shooting Ferrari," said Mann, 80. "It did very well. I plan to shoot that next."

Heat 2 serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the first film, following younger versions of Robert De Niro's Neil McCauley, Val Kilmer's Chris Shiherlis, and Al Pacino's Vincent Hanna in the years leading up to the L.A. crime saga, as well as chronicling what happens to the surviving characters in the years after.

EW confirmed in April that Heat 2 was in the early stages of development for the big screen. No casting announcements have been made, though Adam Driver's name has been floated for the younger version of McCauley.

Asked during the panel about the possibility of reteaming with Driver, who stars in Ferrari (out Dec. 25), Mann said, "Perhaps. We don't talk about that yet. Let me put it this way: Adam and I got along like a house on fire. We have the same work ethic – which is pretty intense. We like each other and we had a great time working together artistically."

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