Deadline reported that Michael Mann had selected Odessa Young for the role of Charlene in Heat 2, although its sources said the status of negotiations was unclear. Ashley Judd played the character in Mann’s 1995 crime film. The report also identified María Cid as Mann’s preferred choice for Gabi, a new character described as the daughter of Neil McCauley’s girlfriend. Representatives for Amazon and the actors declined to comment. Deadline cautioned against an earlier casting rumour involving Inde Navarrette, reporting that she had auditioned for Gabi rather than Charlene. If agreements closed, Young and Cid would join Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, Adam Driver, Stephen Graham and Jason Clarke. Mann was directing from his own screenplay, adapted from the bestselling novel he wrote with Meg Gardiner. The announced producing team included Mann, Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt, with Eric Roth and Shane Salerno executive producing. Amazon MGM was attached to release the sequel theatrically.