Heat 2 eyes The Bear star Ebon Moss-Bachrach for key role as filming nears

Heat 2 is continuing to assemble its cast, with The Bear star Ebon Moss-Bachrach now in final talks to join Michael Mann’s long-awaited follow-up to his 1995 crime classic.

Ebon is being lined up to play Kelso, the character originally portrayed by Tom Noonan in Heat. The casting has not yet been formally confirmed, with Amazon MGM Studios declining to comment, but talks are understood to be at an advanced stage. 

Kelso played a small but important role in the original movie, providing Neil McCauley and his crew with information about the bank robbery that becomes central to the story. Bringing the character back provides another connection between the new film and the world Michael first created more than 30 years ago.

Ebon would arrive in the project following several huge years for his career. His performance as Richie Jerimovich in The Bear turned him into one of television’s most recognisable performers, while his film work has continued to grow alongside the success of the series.

The actor would also be joining an increasingly high-profile Heat 2 ensemble. Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale and Stephen Graham have all been linked with major roles as Michael prepares to take the story back into the lives of characters from the original film. 

Heat 2 is based on the novel Michael wrote with Meg Gardiner, which was published in 2022. Rather than functioning as a straightforward sequel, the story expands events on both sides of the original movie, exploring the characters before the 1995 film while also continuing what happened afterwards.

Production is currently expected to begin in November, making the latest casting development particularly significant as preparations move closer to filming. 

Heat 2 does not yet have a confirmed UK cinema release date.