HEAT Prequel - Michael Mann

[Walts Ghost]

Michael Mann Developing ‘Heat’ Prequel as Both Book and Film Adaption

It’s always a plus when an author’s work gets picked up for a feature film adaptation (i.e. some major dollars and cents). Some writers, like Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, even pen novels with footage of how they may look on a screen playing in their heads. For Michael Mann, it looks like his main goal is to produce books with the soul intention of them getting the feature film treatment, and his first priority is a prequel to his 1995 crime thriller Heat.

Deadline reports that Mann will be launching the imprint Michael Mann Books, which will churn out a series of books that will simultaneously be developed for film and television. The filmmaker will be working with a team of writers to drum up both fiction and nonfiction books, on which he might shared a cover credit. High on his priority is said to be a prequel story centering on the characters of Vincent Hanna (played by Al Pacino in Heat), Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), and Nate (Jon Voight), with more figures to be included.

Mann wrote, produced, and directed Heat, which was based in part on the experiences of Chuck Adamson, a former Chicago police officer. A career criminal tries to execute one last heist (that goes wrong) before retiring as a lieutenant tries to track him down. Also featured among the cast were Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman, William Fichtner, and the Allstate guy Dennis Haysbert.

Many of Mann’s projects are based on books, including The Last of the Mohicans and Manhunter. His upcoming project about the man behind Ferrari, too, is based on the Brock Yates book from 1991 called Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine. Hopefully by returning to one of his most famous films, Mann will be able to resurrect some of his former juice after the less-than-stellar Blackhat.

[doctor_who]

Whattttt

[Scottie]

Very intrigued by this news! I easily consider Heat to be the greatest heist film ever made.

[imsounoriginal]

Neil McCauley is one of my favorite movie characters. Dunno if I want/need to know anything about his life before Heat, but I think a movie about Hanna's earlier days could be interesting. Get into a bit of that coke addiction, too.

[cheez avenger]

Ferrari is on hold, so who knows if he'll do this also. Maybe the book but not the film.

[Ray Jackson]

[Gamma_Winstead]

So uh... How's a prequel gonna work with everyone being 20 years older? Cast random people to be the younger versions? Why not just make an original film then? Me thinks Michael is desperate for a hit.

[spanky87]

Vincent Hanna - Oscar Isaac
Neil McCauley - Tom Hardy
Chris - Brady Corbet or Ryan Gosling
Nate - ?

[DanTheMan]

Heat is my favorite film of Mann's, but I don't know how to feel about a prequel.

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Neil McCauley is one of my favorite movie characters. Dunno if I want/need to know anything about his life before Heat, but I think a movie about Hanna's earlier days could be interesting. Get into a bit of that coke addiction, too.

Not only the coke addiction, but also explore his intense love of women who have a...

[Show spoiler]

[Hellraiserfan]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

Not only the coke addiction, but also explore his intense love of women who have a...

[Show spoiler]

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Very intrigued by this news! I easily consider Heat to be the greatest heist film ever made.

Agree with the second sentence. The first one... ehhhhh... definitely a "leave well enough alone" first instinct.

[aiman04]

Maybe he'll do a Godfather Part II. A somewhat semi-prequel.

[KRW1]

I think this should be left alone; though I could see a book or even comic book being interesting, I don't think it would work as a movie. Heat is outstanding, doesn't need a sequel, prequel, remake or anything (other than a UHD release)

[Doctor Jack]

Can we stop with the prequels already? Their success rate is 1 out of 100.

[Member-244966]

I saw Heat for the first time recently, and I liked it well enough. One of the things I didn't like about it however was everything to do with Kilmer's character, which I personally didn't think added anything to the film. Neil Macauley is one hell of a character though

[tob]

Does not need a prequel but with Mann behind it i wait and see.

[JohnnyPresley21]

Big pass on my part,love Heat one of the greatest films ever but if Mann is so hard on with going back to it why not a sequel ? it makes a lot more sense and to me would be a lot more interesting.Remember that Chris(Val Kilmer) got away at the end and maybe now twenty years later he returns with his own crew looking for one final big score.While a new pair of detectives on theirs trails bring back a retired Hanna(Al Pacino) for help on the case and also do to the fact that for the past twenty years its been eating away at him that he couldn't get the whole crew back all those years ago.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

Not only the coke addiction, but also explore his intense love of women who have a...

[Show spoiler]

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan

Heat is my favorite film of Mann's, but I don't know how to feel about a prequel.

Agree this is a favorite also, but it's a prequel or nothing based on the way Heat ends

[Show spoiler]at the air port with Pacino/De Niro clashing in a final gunfight.

I'll pay to see Mann try to top the genius street battle during the big heist in Heat. The sound effects echoing in the streets, the lack of music and the cinematography and action, resulting in an epic, classic action scene that is unforgettable.

Who they'll cast should be interesting.