DiCaprio and Christian Bale Reportedly Confirm Heat 2 Roles for 2026

Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale are reportedly set to join the cast of Heat 2, stepping into the roles of Chris Shiherlis and Vincent Hanna.

DiCaprio and Bale close deals for the next chapter

After months of rumors, DiCaprio and Bale have reportedly finalized their agreements to appear as the two characters, with reporting from TheWrap describing the process as taking “a year of difficult negotiations.” The outlet’s information is mixed depending on the source: two insiders say the deals are done, while two others claim negotiations are still being wrapped up. An Amazon MGM representative told the same outlet that agreements have not been finalized.

Bringing back the original Heat legacy

Chris Shiherlis and Vincent Hanna are characters that first appeared in director Michael Mann’s original ’90s crime thriller Heat. In the earlier film, Al Pacino played Chris Shiherlis, and the late Val Kilmer portrayed Vincent Hanna. The original movie was also packed with major stars, including Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley, Natalie Portman as Lauren, and Ashley Judd as Charlene Shiherlis—so expectations are that Heat 2 will keep that tradition of a stacked ensemble.

Who else may join—and what Mann has planned

The latest update for the prequel-sequel promises a shared screen moment for DiCaprio and Bale, but it won’t be a two-person affair. TheWrap also reported that Adam Driver is “deep in negotiations” to play villain Otis Wardell. Meanwhile, Stephen Graham—who recently stepped away from Emmy-winning recognition for his role in Netflix’s Adolescence—is said to be in talks to take over Neil McCauley, the part previously played by De Niro.

The report further claims that “a number of actresses” are circling for the role of Charlene, with additional “A-list names” also showing interest. While the identities of those other potential cast members weren’t disclosed in the report, Deadline noted back in May that Jason Clarke (from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) was being considered for a role.

• DiCaprio is expected to play Chris Shiherlis.
• Bale is expected to play Vincent Hanna.
• Adam Driver is being discussed for villain Otis Wardell.
• Stephen Graham is in talks to portray Neil McCauley.
• Actresses are being considered for Charlene, with additional major names also reportedly interested.
• Jason Clarke was previously reported as a candidate for a role.

Development history and what comes next

Mann originally conceived the idea for a Heat follow-up in the form of a book. He announced the project in 2016, and it later released in 2022. Mann has wanted to turn it into a movie for some time, and in 2023 he said he had already laid the groundwork for the film.

During a panel at Deadline’s Contenders London event in 2023, Mann discussed the novel alongside Meg Gardiner. He said, “Meg Gardiner and myself wrote the novel Heat 2, which came out right when we were shooting Ferrari,” adding that it “did very well” and that he plans to shoot it next.

Even with story details promising a follow-up that covers events both before and after the original film’s story, momentum on the movie has been slow for the last few years. When Amazon signed on late last year, rumors that DiCaprio and Bale might join followed soon after. Although both actors have commented publicly on the movie in recent months, their involvement specifics have still been unclear until now. The expectation is that production will begin this November.

Heat 2 currently has no release date. Given how long it has taken for the heist-film sequel to get moving, more updates could take a while. In the meantime, you can read IGN’s review of its Blu-ray release, which earned an 8/10.

(DiCaprio) Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images.

(Bale) Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.

(Driver) Photo by Aurore Marechal/Getty Images.

(Graham) Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).