DiCaprio set for Heat 2 and Scorsese project with Jennifer Lawrence

Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly lining up a busy stretch of work, with industry reports saying he is set to star in Michael Manns long-anticipated Heat 2 while also reuniting with Martin Scorsese and Jennifer Lawrence on a separate project that could begin production in January 2026. The developments, if confirmed, would place DiCaprio at the center of two high-profile studio efforts and could shape financing and scheduling decisions across both productions.

Sources familiar with negotiations say DiCaprio's attachment to Heat 2 followed weeks of talks and would represent a larger role than earlier speculation suggested. The project, based on a 2022 novel co-written by Mann and Meg Gardiner, is a hybrid prequel and sequel to the 1995 film Heat. The story moves between Chicago in 1988, the immediate aftermath of the original film in 1995 and a further jump to 2000, following both detective Vincent Hanna and criminals including Neil McCauley and Chris Shiherlis.

Heat 2 has already been the subject of studio debate. Insiders previously reported a significant gap between Manns initial budget proposal, said to be north of 200 million, and studio hopes to contain costs. That discussion...