Variety’s Directors on Directors series is pretty great, and many interesting combos have been paired together. The most recent is Michael Mann, the director of this season’s “Ferrari,” starring Adam Driver, and Ava DuVernay, the filmmaker behind the upcoming drama, “Origin” featuring Aunjanue Ellis and Jon Bernthal.
The connection between these two is deeper than most. DuVernay started out as a film publicist, and she caught the filmmaking bug on the set of 2004’s “Collateral,” inspired by the way Mann was shooting so fast and fluidly with digital cameras, not to mention shooting in East L.A. and Compton (her old stomping grounds) and featuring a very diverse cast.
During the interview, Mann casually mentions to DuVernay that he wants to have a sci-fi project in the works. Mann noted that he basically wanted to make “Ferrari” for over 20 years. When DuVernay asked if that was the longest time he’s ever had a project gestating for, the filmmaker suggested, well, actually, his sci-fi project may have been kicking around for just as long.
“I actually have a science-fiction [project]…” he said, laughing and then trailing off, but given the question, it sounds like it’s been kicking around for a while.
“So, the clock is still ticking on that one?” DuVernay asked. And he said yes, “the clock is still ticking on it.”
Mann also mentioned the same sci-fi project, Uproxx, and a couple of other projects, too, so it must be on his mind.
“I want to make something on the Battle of Wai in 1968 during the Vietnamese war. I want to make ‘Heat 2.’ There’s a science fiction film I want to make…,” he said.
That project raised the interviewer’s curiosity. “Oh, what’s the science fiction film you want to make?” Uproxx asked. “I can’t talk about it!” he laughed.
It may need to wait, though. A piece in the Guardian suggests “Heat 2” will be his next film, which isn’t surprising as Mann has been intimating that for quite some time now. Watch the full DuVernay and Mann conversation below.
