'Heat' Director Michael Mann Accidentally Shoots Himself at LA Gun Range
Michael Mann, the acclaimed director behind "Heat," was briefly hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a Los Angeles gun range on Saturday.
The 83-year-old filmmaker suffered what his representatives described as a "superficial" injury and has since been released.
What Happened at the Gun Range
The accident happened around 4 p.m. Saturday at The Range LA in West Los Angeles, near Sawtelle Japantown. TMZ, which first reported the news, said Mann was doing target practice when his gun went off as he was trying to holster it. An ambulance then took the director to a local hospital for treatment.
"A weapon accidentally discharged while holstered resulting in a superficial injury," Mann's representatives said in a statement. "He was treated and is being released."
His reps also described the wound as "subcutaneous and minor" and noted that Mann is an experienced shooter with years of practice, according to The A.V. Club.
The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded to a radio call for shots fired in the 11000 block of Missouri Avenue and determined the shooting was accidental. "The subject was transported to a local hospital in stable condition," the LAPD said, according to Fox News. An injury report was completed.
A Director Known for Realistic Gunfights
Mann has long been known for his attention to detail when it comes to firearms on screen. He has said he used live ammunition while training for "Heat" and fired full-load blanks during the film's famous bank robbery shootout so he could record the real sound.
The 1995 crime drama, which starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, remains one of his best-known films.
Mann's career dates back to the 1960s. His other films include "Thief," "Manhunter," "The Last of the Mohicans," "The Insider," "Ali," "Public Enemies" and "Collateral," which starred Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise, who is set to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. He was also an executive producer of the original "Miami Vice" TV series and directed the 2006 movie version.
His most recent film was the 2023 biopic "Ferrari," starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari and Penélope Cruz as his wife, Laura.
What This Means for "Heat 2"
The accident comes as Mann prepares to co-write and direct "Heat 2," a follow-up to his 1995 hit. The film is based on a 2022 novel Mann co-wrote with Meg Gardiner, TheWrap reported.
The sequel reunites Mann with Adam Driver and adds Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale to the cast. According to Film Stories, Bale is set to play detective Vincent Hanna, the role Pacino made famous, while DiCaprio will play thief Chris Shiherlis, originally played by Val Kilmer. Stephen Graham is rumored to play a younger version of Neil McCauley, De Niro's character, and Driver is reportedly set to play a villain named Wardell.
Like the novel, the film is expected to take place both before and after the events of the original, with parts of the story set in 1988. Amazon MGM is reportedly funding the project, with a budget said to be around $170 million.
Filming was previously expected to begin in November, but Graham recently told the "Today" show that production now starts in January.
It is unclear whether Mann was at the range to prepare for the new film. His reps have not said whether the injury will affect the production schedule.
For fans of the original "Heat," the good news is that one of Hollywood's most meticulous filmmakers appears to be on the mend and ready to return to the world he made famous more than 30 years ago.
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