Director Michael Mann has revealed he’s considering the use of AI technology to age and de-age actors in his upcoming film Heat 2, the long-awaited sequel to his 1995 crime masterpiece.
Speaking at a press conference during the Lumière Festival in Lyon—where he’s being honored with the festival’s top award—Mann explained that artificial intelligence could play a vital role in portraying younger versions of the movie’s iconic characters. He clarified that while he hasn’t yet incorporated AI into his filmmaking, he’s exploring the technology purely for storytelling purposes, not spectacle.
“I don’t experiment with technology gratuitously,” Mann said, per Deadline. “If I have a dramatic or aesthetic need for it, then I go deep into what I need. For example, aging and de-aging will be very important in Heat 2.”
The sequel revisits the lives of Detective Vincent Hanna (played by Al Pacino in the original), Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), and Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), following events both before and after the 1995 film. Mann noted that realistic depictions of the characters at different ages will be essential—and that modern AI tools may help achieve that.
Mann also confirmed that production is officially moving forward under Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists, following its move from Warner Bros., citing budgetary needs as the main reason.
“Heat 2 is an expensive movie to make, but I believe it should be made at the proper size and scale,” he said. “It’s complex… shooting in Chicago, Los Angeles, Paraguay, and possibly Singapore.”
He expects a wide theatrical rollout in more than 4,000 U.S. cinemas with a 45-day exclusive run before hitting streaming, aligning with Amazon’s increasing focus on major theatrical releases.
The story begins the day after the original film’s ending, with Val Kilmer’s character, Chris Shiherlis, on the run.
“Only Val Kilmer is alive,” Mann said. “He has to flee the United States, and then it goes seven years earlier, to 1988.”
That timeline shift, he added, creates the need for AI-assisted aging, as Pacino and De Niro’s characters will appear younger in earlier segments. Heat 2 will explore how their pasts molded the men audiences met in 1995.
“The characters of Heat are so alive to me,” Mann reflected. “I know everything about these people. I always wanted to do more with them but couldn’t figure out how—because one of them dies at the end of Heat.”
According to Mann, Heat 2 is expected to hit theaters in 2027, with filming likely to begin soon.
