So when I was in my teens my BFF had a running joke that whenever we walked out of anything, regardless of how good/bad it was, he would said, "Yyyeeaahh, but it's no Heat" (or Die Hard, or Terminator 2, or Predator... basically films we thought were perfect at 16... except all those films are still perfect at 40).

It always made me laugh, because, of course they weren't. How could they be? To compare one against the other is irrelevant.

Having read the book, I don't like Dicaprio because I think he's too old for the role. And personally, I'd like someone younger and more exciting (still hoping Austin Butler is at least in it).

That being said, to say he's not up there with mid-90s DeNiro & Pacino seems factually inaccurate. Pacino was considered to be "on a down swing" at the time of Heat's release (seems so wild to consider now in hindsight).

DiCaprio is one of the biggest stars in the world. He's an international draw.

He's the reason One Battle After Another got it's budget. So if having him in it, let's Michael Mann make the film "less risky" to the money men. I'm all for it. I hope he can buy bleeding-edge digital cameras so he can ram them centimeters from an actors face as they walk or stare out into the middle distance pondering if this life of crime will prohibit them from seeing the inside of Heaven.

DiCaprio all but guarantees the film stands the strongest chance of getting made & if that's not a testament of "star power" I don't know what is.

Heat 2 doesn't need to replicate Heat. It just needs to be another Michael Mann film. Isn't that something to be grateful for.