Is Heat 2 starring Christian Bale and Michael Fassbender releasing in 2025? Viral poster debunked
Reports of a sequel to Michael Mann's 1995 film Heat have been making rounds on the internet for some time. The rumors went viral due to a post shared on the Facebook account of Yoda Bby Aby, which even included a poster of the upcoming film.
Notably, the sequel reports are false since the Facebook page of Yoda Bby Aby only shares satire and fake news. The bio also mentions the same and the page has been frequently sharing similar posts about other films and TV shows, such as Beetlejuice 3. The Facebook post was uploaded on October 26, 2024, with the caption stating that Heat 2 is scheduled to arrive in June next year.
The post claimed that Christian Bale and Michael Fassbender have been cast as Lt. Vincent Hanna and master criminal Neil McCauley. Details related to the storyline were also included which read:
"The plot thickens as Charlie Hunnam steps in as Chris Shiherlis, a pivotal figure in the crew's audacious plan to breach the world's largest and most secure online cryptocurrency vault, thrusting both law enforcement and criminals into a relentless battle of wits across New York City's tech-driven underworld."
The post mentioned that Michael Mann, who helmed Heat, would return to the director's seat again. Furthermore, it claimed to feature the "themes of betrayal, loyalty, and survival, where every choice can mean the difference between liberation and ruin."
The poster was reshared on another Facebook page, Caroliness, and netizens took to the comments section to react to the same. A few people said that a sequel was not needed since the original was the best.
Since the poster stated that the film was a "reimagining" of the first film, netizens were spotted speaking up against it, saying that it did not need a remake. However, a section of the public was also in support of the film.
Michael Mann confirmed Heat 2 during an event last year
While the rumors of the sequel went viral due to a post, the director revealed at the event Contenders London by Deadline in October 2023 that he was working on the film. Michael said that he was planning to start filming this year.
Michael Mann gave an update on Heat 2 during a conversation with the Los Angeles Times in July 2024, saying that the filming will possibly start by the end of this year or at the beginning of 2025. However, he refused to reveal anything more, saying that he could not talk about the project for now.
Michael Mann had previously appeared on Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast in January 2024, saying that he was giving final touches to the script. He even recalled the time when the first film was being made and addressed Val Kilmer's work by saying:
"Val would have seven or eight different reactions and modalities, every one of which was great. I couldn't imagine having such artistic range and depth – more than it's possible to control."
Kilmer portrayed the role of Chris Shiherlis in the film alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the lead roles. Apart from receiving positive reviews, Heat was successful at the box office with collections of around $187 million.