‘The Bear’ Star Ebon Moss-Bachrach Is Stepping Into a Cult Favorite Role in Michael Mann’s ‘Heat 2′

Few sequels have been as long in the making as Michael Mann’s ‘Heat 2’, and every new casting update has brought fans closer to seeing the crime epic finally come together. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is the latest name tied to the project, joining a lineup that is quickly becoming one of the most stacked ensembles in Hollywood.

The original ‘Heat’ arrived in 1995 and grossed $187.4 million on a $60 million budget, and ComicBasics notes it’s widely considered one of the greatest heist films ever made. The sequel adapts the 2022 novel Mann co-wrote with Meg Gardiner, which is partly set in South America and Southeast Asia and serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the original story.

Now the film has found its Kelso. According to an exclusive report from TheWrap, Moss-Bachrach is in final talks to play the character originated by the late Tom Noonan in the 1995 film, with Guy Pearce reportedly considered for the part before Mann’s team settled on the ‘The Bear’ star.

Kelso may be a small role, but it’s a pivotal one. The Playlist points out that Noonan’s mysterious character is the one who sells Neil McCauley the bank heist that ultimately leads to the downfall of him and his crew. MovieWeb noted that Noonan passed away in February 2026, making the recasting especially poignant for longtime fans.

Moss-Bachrach joins an already impressive group. Leonardo DiCaprio plays thief Chris Shiherlis, originally played by Val Kilmer, while Christian Bale takes on LAPD detective Vincent Hanna, Al Pacino’s role in the first film.

The original theatrical trailer for HEAT (1995). pic.twitter.com/3LuJtTHK6c

— All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies) April 29, 2023

Stephen Graham will play Neil McCauley, the character first portrayed by Robert De Niro, and Odessa Young steps into Ashley Judd’s role as Charlene. Newcomer María Cid is also in talks to play Gabi, a brand-new character created for the sequel.

Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment on the report, so the casting isn’t officially confirmed while negotiations continue. Mann returns to direct, with production scheduled to begin in November.

The role adds to an impressive stretch for the actor. He won 2 Emmys for his work on ‘The Bear’, which just wrapped its fifth and final season, and he recently starred alongside Jon Bernthal in a Broadway adaptation of Sidney Lumet’s ‘Dog Day Afternoon’.

He’s also a major part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After playing Ben Grimm in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, he returns to the role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ this Christmas and will appear again in next year’s ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. The Playlist adds that he also has the films ‘The Man I Love’ and ‘A Long Winter’ on the way.

World of Reel called the casting a smart choice, noting that Moss-Bachrach has proven he can do a lot with a simple glance and pause, exactly what a quietly unsettling character like Kelso requires.

‘Heat 2’ has traveled a long path to get here. Mann moved the sequel from Warner Bros. to Paramount and Sony before landing at Amazon MGM Studios, where estimates put the budget at $165 million to $170 million.

The Playlist reports that Amazon MGM has high box office hopes for the film, and Mann is already plotting out the story for a potential third installment. With cameras set to roll in just a few weeks, more casting announcements could still be on the way.

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