Mann and New Regency Clash Over ‘Heat’ Screenplay Rights
WHO:
Variety - Michael Mann, the writer, producer and director of *Heat*, is seeking to reclaim the copyright to the original film’s screenplay.
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency sued Michael Mann to assert that it owns the rights to the *Heat* screenplay.
The Hollywood Reporter - A spokesperson for Mann said he is “confident that the courts will vindicate Michael Mann’s statutory rights under the Copyright Act.”
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency produced *Heat*, which starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer.
Deadline - New Regency is run by Yariv Milchan.
WHAT:
Variety - New Regency filed a lawsuit arguing that it still owns the copyright to Mann’s screenplay for *Heat*.
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency seeks a court order clarifying that it retains the screenplay rights and argues that Mann cannot terminate its copyright because the screenplay was a “work made for hire.”
The Hollywood Reporter - The complaint states: “The Screenplay is not subject to termination.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Mann served New Regency three notices seeking to reclaim the copyright to the screenplay and underlying materials. The first sought to terminate all copyright grants for *Heat*, including an alleged oral agreement.
The Hollywood Reporter - Mann’s spokesperson said Mann’s original writing on multiple screenplays evolved into *Heat*, and that he is exercising authors’ right to reclaim their work.
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency says the termination notices “cloud Regency’s title to the Screenplay” and impair its ability to develop, finance and license works derived from it.
Deadline - Mann has made several attempts to reclaim ownership of the original screenplay under copyright termination.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency filed its lawsuit in California federal court.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - *Heat* was released in 1995; Mann’s screenplay-related writing dates to the 1980s.
The Hollywood Reporter - Mann’s novel *Heat 2* was published in 2022.
The Hollywood Reporter - Mann said the dispute is unrelated to *Heat 2* production, which is scheduled to begin shooting on Jan. 19. The article does not specify the year.
The Hollywood Reporter - New Regency filed its lawsuit on a Friday; the article does not specify the calendar date.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - The dispute concerns whether Mann wrote the screenplay as an independent author or as an employee. The article says works made for hire are generally not eligible for copyright termination because the employer is legally considered the author.
The Hollywood Reporter - The outcome may affect provisions in agreements Mann and New Regency each entered into with Amazon concerning *Heat 2*.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Mann says the copyright claim rests on his statutory rights under the Copyright Act. New Regency argues that an alleged 1988 oral agreement with Mann and two companies he controlled assigned the copyright; Mann allegedly said the assignment was never formally written and that he had only recently discovered the arrangement.
The Hollywood Reporter - *Heat 2*, based on Mann’s 2022 novel, is described as both a prequel and sequel to the original film and is set to star Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer.
(UPDATED November 14, 2026 07:58 UTC)
New Regency sued Michael Mann in California, claiming it owns the screenplay rights to Heat. Mann is seeking to reclaim the copyright, arguing the screenplay grew from his original writing. The dispute could affect agreements tied to the planned Heat 2 production starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.