Not everything needs to be a franchise, nor should it be. Another lesson Hollywood, it seems, cannot learn. Heat 2 isn’t even in the can yet, and there are already rumors of Heat 3.
As part of a report into the making of Heat 2 over at The Wrap, some bold claims have been made, including that Amazon/MGM reportedly believe the film could gross $500 million worldwide. This confidence has led them to start thinking about a potential Heat 3.
Looking at the box office right now, I would say confidence is the last thing anyone should have. A couple of huge tentpoles like The Odyssey and Spider-Man are merely covering for a wider summer of failure.
The report says that producer Jerry Bruckheimer believes Heat 2 could be this year’s F1, another of his movies.
A budget of $165 million means the hurdle bar is set quite high. The budget was the cause of some of the back and forth. Mann needed $220 million. Warner Bros. was still smarting from Joker 2 and Mickey 17 giving them a huge loss headache, so they would only go to $120 million.
The Paramount and Sony co-finance deal fell through, so Amazon MGM saw an opportunity and swooped in with $165 million, then grabbed $40 million back via California rebate. Now, the movie will shoot from November across Los Angeles, Chicago, Paraguay, and Singapore.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Chris Shiherlis, with Christian Bale as Vincent Hanna, and Stephen Graham as Neil McCauley. These were the Kilmer, Pacino, and De Niro roles in the original movie. Adam Driver is rumored for Otis Wardell, the new antagonist.
I know a couple of Outposters have read the book and didn’t rate it. Can the silver screen work its magic?
Heat 2 is expected in theaters in 2028, but that is yet to be confirmed.
