After confirming Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio for Heat 2, Michael Mann is starting to move on to the key female roles. Deadline reports Odessa Young will play young Charlene Shiherlis in the anticipated sequel, taking over the part famously played by Ashley Judd. This follows news that Obsession breakout Inde Navarrette had passed on the role. The report states that Navarrette had actually auditioned for the role of Gabi, but that is instead going to Mann’s first choice, newcomer Maria Cid.
Heat 2 is based on Mann and Meg Gardiner’s novel, taking place across two time periods, acting as a prequel and sequel to the 1995 film with young versions of the characters played by Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and Val Kilmer. In the first period, Chris Shiherlis tries to escape the LAPD after a robbery gone wrong, making his way to Southern Asia. The other time period is in 1988 Chicago, as Neil McCauley, Chris Shiherlis, and their crew nearly encounter Detective Hannah as he pursues a violent gang of home invaders.
Gabi is a new character to the franchise, and the daughter of McCauley’s girlfriend.
Young is best known for her roles in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, Assassination Nation, and the Netflix series, Black Rabbit. I interviewed her a few years ago for the literary drama, Shirley.
Adam Driver, Stephen Graham, and Jason Clarke are also in the cast, with more roles still to be filled.
