Michael Mann Sets Untitled Global Manhunt Crime Novel Follow-Up To ‘Heat 2’ Under His William Morrow Imprint Deal

Mike Fleming Jr
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: Michael Mann has set his second novel collaboration with Edgar-winning author Meg Gardiner. After starting out with Heat 2, a novel that topped the bestseller charts and hatched a movie that Mann is writing to direct at Warner Bros, Mann and Gardiner set up a new original novel that explores an intense global manhunt launched by a renegade federal agent and a stateless operator on a vendetta, in a highly authentic global arena.

The book is intended to serve as the first in a series. It will be the second novel from Michael Mann Books. Mann signed a three-book, multimillion-dollar publishing deal with the HarperCollins division William Morrow. Heat 2 editor Jennifer Brehl will be back for the new book.

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Coming off directing his passion project Ferrari, Mann is currently scripting Heat 2, a prequel and sequel to his 1996 crime classic Heat. Mann is writing to direct that one, and the novel told a story of the formative years of cop Vincent Hanna and thief Neil McCauley (played by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, respectively, in the film) and follows the aftermath of the bank robbery and shootout that ended the film. Along with Hanna, that storyline centers on McCauley’s partner in crime Chris Shiherlis (played by Val Kilmer in the film), and Charlene Shiherlis (Ashley Judd) and McCauley’s fence, Nate (Jon Voight), as well as some new badass characters.

Mann is writing, producing and directing. He’ll recast the key roles, but those decisions are a ways down the road.

Published in more than 25 countries, Heat 2 showed the continued interest in the characters Mann created in the original film, widely considered one of the best efforts by a director whose films include The Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Manhunter, Collateral, Ali and Thief. The hope is to release Heat 2 during the 30th anniversary of the 1996 original.

Ferrari stars Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey, and the film pushed Mann across the billion-dollar director mark.

Shane Salerno’s The Story Factory reps Michael Mann Books and made the imprint deal with William Morrow.

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