With Austin Butler making the press rounds with interviews for Jeff Nichols‘ “The Bikeriders” in theaters tomorrow, he’s getting plenty of questions about buzzy upcoming projects. Among them? Darren Aronofsky‘s “Caught Stealing,” Ari Aster‘s “Eddington,” and … possibly Michael Mann‘s “Heat 2“? There’s no official confirmation yet that Butler will play Chris Shiherlis in Mann’s upcoming prequel, but rumors abound that the actor will play a younger version of Val Kilmer‘s character from the 1995 film. But what does Butler have to say about those rumors?
Not much at all. Butler remains coy about his involvement in the crime action sequel, telling the AP this week that he “cannot confirm nor deny” if he’s in “Heat 2.” The actor made similar comments to EW recently, too. “I have a canned answer that I’ve been saying for this, just, yeah I love Michael Mann, I love the first film, I love Val Kilmer,” Butler told the outlet. “Yeah, it’s — he’s an incredible filmmaker.”
All of that’s pretty vague, but nothing about the film is conclusive at this point outside of Mann wanting to shoot it this year. But if Butler is Chris Shiherlis in “Heat 2,” then he’ll need to shoot his parts after Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” starts production in September. That leaves plenty of time for Mann to start rolling on “Heat 2” in Q4 2024, but again, this is all speculation. Let’s get confirmation that Butler is in Mann’s sequel first.
Here’s one thing Butler fans do know: he’s working with another buzzy director on their latest film which already wrapped shooting: Ari Aster‘s “Eddington.” Butler discussed the upcoming film with THR in a new interview about “The Bikeriders.” “The entire team was incredible to work with,” the actor said about the “Eddington” cast and crew, which includes Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, and more. “I don’t want to give much away as far as the story and character go, but it was a wild adventure that I got to go on. I got to play a character who’s very different from anything that I’ve done.” And what was it like working with Aster? “Ari and I have been friends for a little bit, and it was great to see him on set,” Butler continued. “He is such an incredible filmmaker, and he has such confidence and such a sense of humor and wild imagination. I truly loved working with him.”
A24 doesn’t have an official release date yet for “Eddington,” but all eyes are on it after “Beau Is Afraid,” Aster’s third feature, alienated the hell out of audiences last year. As for the plot of “Eddington”? That remains a bit of a mystery. The black comedy western involves a small town in New Mexico, the ambitious sheriff who runs it, and a couple stranded just outside town that sends the community into a nightmarish tailspin. That sure sounds like an Ari Aster movie to this writer.
But before “Eddington,” “Caught Stealing,” and (possibly) “Heat 2,” there’s “The Bikeriders.” Butler stars in Nichols’ long-delayed film as a charismatic young bike gang member who watches the Vandals MC, his horde, slowly devolve into a criminal enterprise. Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Mike Faist, and Nichols regular Michael Shannon also star in the film. “The Bikeriders” got sterling reviews out of its world premiere at Telluride last September, but the SAG-AFTRA strike caused Focus Features to push back its planned December 2023 theatrical release. It now hits theaters this weekend.
Take a look at a trailer for “The Bikeriders” below, which may be enough of a distraction away from all of those “Heat 2” rumors about Austin Butler as Chris Shiherlis.