Los Angeles (AFP)

Michael Mann wants to achieve the sequel to "Heat", a box-office hit in which he brought together in 1995 the iconic Al Pacino and Robert De Niro for the first time in the history of cinema, told AFP the director American.

"Heat" is the brainchild of a gang of muscled robbers led by De Niro with a nasty detective, Al Pacino, who tracks him all over Los Angeles.

In 2016, Michael Mann announced that he was working on a novel inspired by the famous action film, which would be published by the collection he hosts at publisher HarperCollins.

"The novel is written about two-thirds, and it's a mix of the prequel + Heat + and the sequel to + Heat +," told AFP the director, aged 76. "In fact, it's all that happens before the film and after the film," he summed up.

In a hurry to say if he planned to adapt this novel to the cinema, Michael Mann replied: "Of course!", Before adding that he could also consider making it a television series. "Rather a film, but the landscape changes so strongly and so quickly, you never know," he said.

Michael Mann is writing this book in collaboration with author Reed Coleman, and plans to publish it next year, he says.

The plot will include the youth spent in prison Neil McCauley, the hoodlum embodied on the screen by Robert De Niro, and the childhood of his accomplice Chris Shiherlis, played in "Heat" by Val Kilmer.

The novel will also explore the past of Vincent Hanna, the policeman whose role is held by Al Pacino, and his experience in the Chicago police before arriving in Los Angeles.

"Heat", a commercial success also praised by the critics, is particularly famous for the dinner scene that brings together Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, their first appearance together on screen. Twenty years ago, they were both cast in "Godfather 2", but did not share any scenes in common.

The legendary Hollywood duo will be back side by side in Martin Scorsese's upcoming film, "The Irishman", released in November.

© 2019 AFP