Christian Bale is in talks to join Michael Mann’s ‘Heat 2,’ the long-awaited sequel to the director’s 1995 crime thriller.

Bale, who previously collaborated with Mann on ‘Public Enemies,’ could reunite with the filmmaker alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, also being considered for a lead role.

Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists are targeting a 2026 production start. The film has secured $37.2 million in California tax credits, though story details are still under wraps. Mann adapted the script from his 2022 New York Times–bestselling novel co-written with Meg Gardiner. He will produce with Jerry Bruckheimer and UA executives Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt. Eric Roth and Shane Salerno will executive produce.

‘Heat,’ celebrating its 30th anniversary in December, depicted a tense showdown between an LAPD detective (Al Pacino) and a master thief (Robert De Niro). It grossed $187 million worldwide on a $60 million budget.

Bale’s career has ranged from his breakout in ‘American Psycho’ and his iconic portrayal of Batman in ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy to roles as Dick Cheney in ‘Vice”’and racer Ken Miles in ‘Ford v. Ferrari,’ which Mann executive produced. He next stars as Frankenstein’s monster in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Bride!’ and will play Raiders owner Al Davis in David O. Russell’s ‘Madden.’

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