Ahead of Upcoming Sequel, Ashley Judd Calls Out Heat for Its Depiction of Women: ‘Not Okay’

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A leading actor criticized how women were portrayed in the original film, calling it problematic, just before the release of the sequel. While the crime film is generally considered a classic, some aspects haven’t held up over time.

I was reading an interview with Naomi Judd where she talked about watching her old movies with her partner, and it really struck me. She said the way women were portrayed in Heat just doesn’t sit right with her now, and that there are other scenes across her work she wouldn’t do today. She explained it all came from a place of internal struggles she was dealing with at the time.

Judd explained that everyone involved played a role. He admitted his own past involvement, saying he participated in those actions but wouldn’t do so today, and emphasized the importance of reflecting on it all after three decades.

Despite everything, Judd spoke highly of Michael Mann, the writer and director of Heat. He made a special effort to involve her in the production even after she had finished filming her own scenes. She explained, “I finished filming, returned my costume, and went back to the set. Michael would simply nod to welcome me, and I’d sit and watch the filming process.”

Judd remembers feeling incredibly included and comfortable around him, even on days when they weren’t shooting. He thought it was wonderful, and the food was great. In fact, he believes this was the first movie set where he started taking naps during his lunch break.

Judd shared that he really enjoyed working on the film and continues to feel proud of being involved, considering it a truly iconic piece of work.

She explained that the film simply shows what’s already happening in the real world, and the real world has issues. Pointing out problems with the movie itself misses the point – the real issue is the reality it portrays. She sees her work as simply observing and offering a critique of that reality.

In Michael Mann’s film Heat, Robert De Niro plays Neil McCauley, a skilled thief and bank robber. When a robbery goes badly and security guards are killed, McCauley clashes with Vincent Hanna, an LAPD detective played by Al Pacino.

In addition to Al Pacino, Ashley Judd, and Robert De Niro, the film Heat boasts an impressive cast including Amy Brenneman, Tom Sizemore, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, Niki Haris, Hank Azaria, Danny Trejo, Henry Rollins, Tone Loc, Xander Berkeley, Jeremy Piven, Jon Voight, William Fichtner, and Natalie Portman. The film also featured Val Kilmer, who sadly passed away recently, and earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Chris Shiherlis.

The film Heat was a major success, earning over $187.4 million on a $60 million budget. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and viewers, currently holding an 84% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% audience approval score.

What Can Fans Expect from Heat 2?

In 2022, Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner co-authored a sequel novel titled Heat 2, which continues the story of Detective Vincent Hanna from the 1980s through the early 2000s. The book received mostly positive feedback. The following year, Mann announced plans for a film adaptation, with Adam Driver expected to play McCauley. Leonardo DiCaprio is confirmed to star, and Christian Bale, Austin Butler, and Bradley Cooper are reportedly also being considered for roles.

Fans can expect a story that jumps between the future and the past, starting from a key moment in what the filmmaker considers one of the best crime noir movies ever made. Since the source material is already public, there aren’t any major plot surprises to reveal.

DiCaprio explained that he views the new film as separate from anything that’s come before. While it’s inspired by Heat, they aren’t trying to recreate it – they’re aiming to create something entirely new and distinct.

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2026-01-03 23:11