Assuming he does end up signing on –– and a reunion with Mann is certainly an intriguing concept –– Bale would likely end up co-starring with Leonardo DiCaprio, though no deals are complete yet.
Still, it certainly appears Mann is aiming to build a leading ensemble to match the star power and awards haul of the original, famously led by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Robert De Niro on the set of ‘Heat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Mann’s original film follows Neil McCauley (De Niro), who leads a group of professional bank robbers, taking down major scores around Los Angeles. But after their latest heist goes terribly wrong and ends up in homicide, detective Vincent Hanna (Pacino) finds a clue and becomes obsessed with the case, determined to stop McCauley’s crew.
Hanna and McCauley are competing against each other in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Although they are on different sides of the law, they still find huge respect, recognition in each other’s troubled personal lives and they understand their competing motivations –– yet they won’t hesitate to do whatever they can to win the battle.
How does ‘Heat 2’ tie in?
(L to R) Director Michael Mann, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro on the set of ‘Heat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
‘Heat 2’ (written by Mann alongside Meg Gardiner) in book form tells the story of everything that happens before and after to the principal characters. The book jumps between two time periods, the first following Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer in the original film) as he tries to evade the LAPD and Hanna following the bank robbery gone bad and moves forward into new territory in the tri-border zone and Southeast Asia.
The second storyline takes readers back to Chicago in 1988 when McCauley, Shiherlis and their crew are taking scores on the West Coast, the U.S.–Mexico border, and in Chicago. At the same time, Hanna is cutting his teeth as a rising star in the Chicago police department chasing an ultraviolent gang of home invaders.
The fallout from McCauley’s scores and Hanna’s pursuit cause unexpected repercussions in a parallel narrative.
DiCaprio is reportedly interested in the role of Shiherlis, and the likes of Austin Butler and Bradley Cooper have also had meetings about potential parts. Driver is still apparently part of the mix too –– essentially anyone with a profile is circling this one. We don’t yet know who Bale might play.
When will ‘Heat 2’ be on screens?
Amazon MGM has yet to confirm a release date for the movie, but Mann is aiming to have cameras rolling next year.
Director Michael Mann at the premiere of ‘Ferrari.’ Photo: Neon.
(L to R) Rebecca Miller and Martin Scorsese in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Rebecca Miller about her work on ‘Mr. Scorsese’, how she got involved in the project, interviewing Martin Scorsese, his working relationship Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, which interview surprised her the most, pacing the series over five episodes, what Scorsese had to say about ‘Taxi Driver’, and what she hopes people take away from watching the series.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how you got involved with this project and when conducting the interviews with Martin Scorsese, what was it like essentially directing the greatest director of all time?
Rebecca Miller: Well, I got involved with it really by a formless hunch, a feeling. I had made another documentary, Damon Cardasis my producing partner said, “What would you like to do?” Because I said I’d like to make another one. He said, “What’s the subject?” I thought of Martin Scorsese first. You know, he made it so easy in a way to interview him. He almost makes fun of himself in the very beginning of the series where he’s making jokes about, “You need a slate” and stuff like that. But really, he was just so open, I think, is the word. Just very open. I wasn’t really directing him so much as just listening to him, you know, and then asking the next question. We led each other into some very unexpected places.
(L to R) Archival photo of Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese on the set of “The Aviator” featured in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: Mr. Scorsese has had many great collaborators over the years, but the three that stick out from the documentary were Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Can you talk about interviewing them and is there a through line between their collaborations that you can put your finger on?
RM: The first word that comes to mind is trust. In fact, he mentions that with regards to them. You know, he knew that De Niro, even though he was becoming a star after ‘Mean Streets’, he could trust him. That he wasn’t going to abandon him or allow anyone to take the work away from him, because that was still a possibility from Marty at that time. With Thelma, he knew that he could trust her to help him make the work that he needed to make and not be obstructionist or egotistical about it. The same thing with, I think with Leonardo, because that’s what Marty needs is to be able to trust people that he’s collaborating with. Then once that trust is there, you’re free to experiment and to really be wild because you trust each other.
(L to R) Archival photo of Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker featured in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: Of all the interviews you did with Mr. Scorsese’s friends, family and colleagues, was there one interview that really surprised you and was there anyone you wanted to speak with but were unable to?
RM: I got to talk to so many people, and people that I never expected to be able to speak to. His childhood friends were like a particular boon, it was just so amazing that I got to talk to them, especially because one of them died shortly after I interviewed him. But also, the model for Johnny Boy (from ‘Mean Streets’), you know, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I didn’t even know that I would necessarily have them.
(L to R) Robert De Niro, Frank “Butch” Piccirillo and Martin Scorsese in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: Can you talk about pacing and the challenge of fitting in all aspects of Mr. Scorsese’s life and career into just five episodes?
RM: I mean, I didn’t want to rush, but on the other hand, I really wanted there to be a sense of pacing and of urgency, because his work has that, and his personality has that. I wanted it to reflect his personality. I wanted the film to feel like Marty himself. Maybe that’s why sometimes there are certain cuts that feel like his cuts, because they’re originating with him and his personality. Then, of course, his work is an outgrowth of his personality. But you know, the number of segments really, at first it was going to be one feature film. Then I quite quickly realized there was no way I could do it that way, because the childhood and early adulthood really needed time, so you could understand how deeply connected his work in general is to those early years. Once you do that, once you spend that first episode, then you need more time to get to the rest of it. Because essentially, the series is really the dance between the art and the life. They’re creating each other. Art’s creating life, life’s creating art, and at a certain point, we kind of ran out of life in a way. That’s the point where you’re like, “Okay, that’s the end”. So, it’s the dance between those two things.
Archival photo of Martin Scorsese on the set of ‘Gangs of New York’ featured in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: Was there any movie that you asked Mr. Scorsese about where you were surprised by his answer?
RM: Well, I mean, I was very intrigued by his answers to ‘Taxi Driver’. I talked to him about it. I asked, “What is it about you at that time that’s in that film?” And you can see him close his eyes and sort of be resistant, but also want to give an answer. He gives this extraordinary answer but over throughout, there’s this thread of the deep connection between what he’s going through as a person, his own suffering, his obsessions, and the films that he’s making.
Archival photo of Martin Scorsese on the set of ‘The Departed’ featured in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: In the series, Mr. Scorsese talks says that in the stories he tells, the human struggle is what he is most interested in? Can you talk about his passion for that idea in terms of his filmography?
RM: I think overall, there’s a sort of sense of, as Nicholas Pileggi says, “Underdogs trying to score”, and very often, these people are struggling to become themselves. It’s like they want to become themselves, but in that process of trying to become themselves, like Jake LaMotta (in ‘Raging Bull’), for example, you can lose your soul, and that’s interesting too. The loss of the self, the loss of the soul, the kind of darkness that can come into sight of people. It’s not always good news in Scorsese’s universe.
Martin Scorsese in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
MF: Finally, what will you remember most about making this series and what do you hope fans learn about Mr. Scorsese and his work that they did not already know?
RM: I mean, just having him in my life and the friendship that I have with him is such an immense reward. The idea that I was able to maybe give him back to the people that love him in a form that they didn’t know or anticipate, and to shed something new on the films and maybe bring people back to the films or to the films when they haven’t seen them, that to me is a great reward.
Martin Scorsese in ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ premiering October 17, 2025 on Apple TV+.
What is the story of ‘Mr. Scorsese’?
Explore the many lives of Martin Scorsese through intimate interviews with the man himself, access to his private archives, plus conversations with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Daniel Day-Lewis, Steven Spielberg, and more.
(Left) Leonardo DiCaprio at the Los Angeles World Premiere of ‘One Battle After Another’. Photo Credit: Jay Clendenin. Copyright: Shutterstock. (Right) Director Michael Mann at the premiere of ‘Ferrari.’ Photo: Neon.
Preview:
Michael Mann’s ‘Heat 2’ has Leonardo DiCaprio circling a role.
Bradley Cooper and more are also said to have met for the movie.
The film itself is on the move from Warner Bros. to Amazon after budget disagreements.
And that’s not the only development –– the movie itself has shifted from Warner Bros. (where the studio and director couldn’t come to terms on the budget) to Amazon MGM Studios, which will produce via its United Artists label after winning the chance over the likes of Sony and Paramount.
(L to R) Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 1995’s ‘Heat.’
Mann’s original film follows Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), who leads a group of professional bank robbers, taking down major scores around Los Angeles. But after their latest heist goes terribly wrong and ends up in homicide, detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) finds a clue and becomes obsessed with the case, determined to stop McCauley’s crew.
Hanna and McCauley are competing against each other in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Although they are on different sides of the law, they still find huge respect, recognition in each other’s troubled personal lives and they understand their competing motivations –– yet they won’t hesitate to do whatever they can to win the battle.
How does ‘Heat 2’ tie in?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer in 1995’s ‘Heat.’
‘Heat 2’ (written by Mann alongside Meg Gardiner) in book form tells the story of everything that happens before and after to the principal characters. The book jumps between two time periods, the first following Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer in the original film) as he tries to evade the LAPD and Hanna following the bank robbery gone bad and moves forward into new territory in the tri-border zone and Southeast Asia.
The second storyline takes readers back to Chicago in 1988 when McCauley, Shiherlis and their crew are taking scores on the West Coast, the U.S.–Mexico border, and in Chicago. At the same time, Hanna is cutting his teeth as a rising star in the Chicago police department chasing an ultraviolent gang of home invaders.
The fallout from McCauley’s scores and Hanna’s pursuit cause unexpected repercussions in a parallel narrative.
DiCaprio is reportedly interested in the role of Shiherlis, and the likes of Austin Butler and Bradley Cooper have also had meetings about potential parts. Driver is still apparently part of the mix too –– essentially anyone with a profile is circling this one. But zero deals are in place yet.
Still, at least it seems Mann can finally get the burner lit and get ‘Heat 2’ cooking.
Director Michael Mann at the premiere of ‘Ferrari.’ Photo: Neon.
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Scott Eastwood in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Eastwood about his work on ‘Tin Soldier’, his first reaction to the screenplay, his research into cults, what his character is fighting for, working with Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, doing his own stunts, and collaborating with director Brad Furman, as well as giving an update on when ‘Fast X: Part 2‘ will begin production.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?
Scott Eastwood: The setup was quite interesting. It was original, but it’s something you could imagine could happen if a cult had formed, but instead of a bunch of yahoos, it’s ex-military. I thought that that was an interesting concept and having the one guy who had escaped the cult called back to help the government go in and break it up. At the same time, he is lured in by his wife who had gone missing, that she might still be alive. I thought that was an interesting concept. Also, Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, it was like, that’s a no-brainer. I got to work with those two.
MF: Did you do research into real-life cults and the mindset of a person who is a former cult member?
SE: Yeah. I watched a ton of documentaries about them. Luckily in recent years there’s been a lot of documentaries about these cults, whether it’s ‘Wild Wild Country’ or the Waco stuff. There’s been a lot more docs about them and a lot more deep dives into the psychology and how the brainwashing happens. It’s interesting stuff.
(L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Nash and Bokushi and what was it like working with on those scenes with Jamie Foxx?
SE: Yeah, from the research, they sort of all have the same playbook. They break you down and then build you up and they become like a messiah for people and then it always seems that they turn ugly in some of the manifestations of these behaviors. Whoever these figures are, whether it’s the Bhagwan (Shree Rajneesh), Ron L. Hubbard, it sort of turns dark. Working with Jamie was great. I mean, he made some wild choices with this guy. So, getting to work opposite him was, for me, it made the job quite easy because he’s a bigger than life character, and he brought a ton of interesting choices to him. So as an actor it’s a dream because you just sort of react to those choices.
MF: Did you know Jamie already before making this movie?
SE: I did. Yeah, I did, and Jamie’s a great guy. He’s great and he’s easy to work with and super giving and friendly. He brings a vibe to the set that always gets people to smile and relax so you can be there and have fun doing your job.
Robert De Niro in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: You have some intense scenes with Robert De Niro. How did you prepare for those scenes and were you intimidated working with him?
SE: Just like anything, yes, you feel that you want to do a good job, you want to bring life to this character, but that’s all just reps in the gym beforehand. By the time you get on set, you’ve already done all the hard work. You’ve already done the performance 10,000 times. You’ve done the emotional work, you’ve done all the prep work, so by the time you get there, then you can just relax and do the best job you can do. That all comes from your prep, prepping and doing the performance a bunch, and then you just get to show up and have fun.
MF: What did you learn from working with De Niro, and could you see his greatness in the scene when you were acting opposite him?
SE: Well, I think he would probably tell you the same thing. I’ve intellectualized a little bit about acting with him, and then I’ve also heard him speak through the years about process, but it’s a similar thing. If you’ve done the work and you’ve done the performance 10,000 times and you’ve mined it and go deeper and deeper into everything from all the choices the character would make, and just really discovering that, then by the time you get to the set, the hard work is done. I mean, I’ve heard him say that many times and we spoke about that.
Robert De Niro in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: I’ve heard that De Niro likes to do a table read with the cast before he signs on to a project to make sure it’s something that he wants to be involved with. Is that true? Was that the case on this film?
SE: We didn’t do a table read that I can remember with him. My memory’s a little fuzzy, but I don’t remember doing that. But he is so prepped when he shows up on set. I mean, he has done all the work and really explored the character.
MF: In many ways, as an ex-military and a former member of this cult, Nash is uniquely qualified for this mission. Can you talk about that and how he feels about going back to confront Bokushi?
SE: Yeah, he is. I mean, he’s been in that world, sucked in and was really the only one to get out. So, he’s got that inside information and he’s been pulled back in. He is at the same time, I think, a very tormented character through what he’s been through, so he’s got that pulling at him, the whole movie, which makes him a very complex guy.
Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Nash returns to save his wife, who he is not even sure is still alive. Is that what drives the character in your opinion?
SE: That’s what drives him, yeah. That’s sort of the emotional rollercoaster of the film. That’s the heart of it, trying to discover the truth, get back to the truth and find out if she’s alive. Which made it, that’s like the North Star. That’s all he really cares about. He doesn’t really care about trying to break this thing up. He’s there for his own reasons to see if his wife is alive.
MF: Can you talk about shooting the action sequences and did you do all the stunts yourself?
SE: I think so. Not everything. There were certain stunts, and we shot this movie in Greece. I find that anytime you go into Europe, you get away with a little bit more. You get away with some bigger stunts and get away with some stuff that might not be allowed in the U.S., which always makes for a better movie because you get a bigger production value out of it. But no, there were certain stunts that they didn’t want me doing that I sort of acquiesced and said, “Oh great, let’s let someone else do that one. That one seems like it’s threading the needle a little bit.” But I try to do as much as I can. It just helps the movie. When you can do the most that you can, then the movie becomes more visceral. You don’t have to cheat things; you can do cool camera movements if you keep the actor in those stunts.
Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: You’ve played characters with military backgrounds before. Do you have to retrain every time or does the training stay with you?
SE: You brush up on it before you do gun work and before you do that stuff. I think you always brush up on it just to keep it tight and make sure that’s good. But yeah, it’s in the toolbox for sure, so that’s easy for me.
MF: What was your experience like collaborating with director Brad Furman on set?
SE: Fascinating. He’s very complex and very visual. He’s a fascinating guy. We had a very tough shoot, but the movie turned out to be a wild ride.
Scott Eastwood in ‘The Fate of the Furious’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: Finally, can you give us an update on ‘Fast X: Part 2’? Have you seen a script yet or do you know when you’ll begin shooting?
SE: I don’t know, but I know that there’s talk about it and whispers about it right now. It’s happening right now.
Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
What is the plot of ‘Tin Soldiers’?
The Bokushi (Jamie Foxx), who preaches to hundreds of veterans who have been drawn to the promise of protection and purpose under him. After several failed infiltration attempts on his impenetrable fortress, military operative Emmanuel Ashburn (Robert De Niro) recruits Nash Cavanaugh (Scott Eastwood), an ex-special forces asset who was once a disciple of The Bokushi. Nash agrees to use his insider knowledge of the enigmatic leader as he seeks vengeance on the man who took everything from him, including the love of his life.
Skyler Gisondo is joining the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie.
He’s playing Ben Stiller’s character’s son.
The film is titled ‘Focker-in-Law’.
And so, we have another Focker.
Yes, while technically, we met the kids of Ben Stiller’s Gaylord “Greg” Focker and Teri Polo’s Pam in ‘Little Fockers’, with the fourth movie –– now officially titled ‘Focker-in-Law’–– in pre-production, the team has found someone to play the grown version of Henry, their son.
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Much of the new movie’s exact narrative remains under wraps, but we do know it’ll focus on a potential new addition to the family –– Ariana Grande has the role of Henry’s fiancée, an alpha type who would likely mesh well with Greg Focker’s imposing father-in-law, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro).
Confirmed as returning so far for this one are Stiller, Polo, De Niro, Blythe Danner (as Pam’s mother, Dina) and Owen Wilson as Kevin Rawley, Greg’s former rival for Pam’s affections.
Apart from being part of one of the biggest movie currently in theaters (‘Superman’, in case you forgot us mentioning it in the intro), Gisondo has been seen in a few movies of late, including ‘Licorice Pizza’, ‘The Starling’ and ‘The Binge’.
But perhaps most pertinent to this new potential job is that he has form playing the son of a Ben Stiller character –– he’s Nick Daley, Larry’s (Stiller) kid in 2014’s ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’.
We predict far fewer exhibits will come to life in this new comedy, though De Niro’s character does act like an angry dinosaur from time to time…
When will ‘Focker-in-Law’ hit theaters?
Universal previously announced that the movie will be out for Thanksgiving next year, planting a flag in November 25th, 2026.
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
List of Movies in the ‘Meet the Parents’ Franchise:
John Hamburg, who co-wrote all three prior films, wrote the screenplay for the new feature and is set to direct.
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Wilson plays Kevin Rawley, the laidback rival of Stiller’s character (who becomes less so as the story goes on).
We don’t know much about the new movie’s plotline so far, but it’ll reportedly see the son of Stiller’s Greg getting engaged to a headstrong woman (with Ariana Grande) playing the fiancée.
What’s the story of the ‘Meet the Parents’ movies?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The idea for the ‘Parents’ franchise actually originated years before Ben Stiller accidentally knocked an urn full of ashes from a mantle or milking a cat was ever discussed.
Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke created and co-wrote an independent film, also titled ‘Meet the Parents,’ back in 1992.
Glienna directed, wrote two original songs, and starred as protagonist Greg: a Chicago advertising agent who travels with his fiancée Pam Burns to meet her parents, Irv and Kay, over a weekend but sets off a series of accidents and causes the family to fall apart.
After Pam’s sister Fay commits suicide, framing Greg in the process, Irv attempts to shoot him but accidentally kills Kay and Pam before dying of a heart attack. So… yes, a little darker even than what followed.
Sensing some potential (albeit with less murder/suicide), Universal bought the rights to the indie movie. The studio hired screenwriter Jim Herzfeld to expand the script and tone down some of the sharper edges, which led to what we all now know as ‘Meet the Parents’ in 2000.
Jay Roach directed that film, with Hamburg re-writing the script. It stars Stiller as Gaylord “Greg” Focker, a male nurse who is looking to propose to his girlfriend, Pam (Polo). Upon learning that Pam’s sister’s fiancé sought her father’s permission to marry, Greg sees an opportunity when they travel to her parents for the wedding.
As it turns out, Pam’s father is the stern, authoritative Jack Byrnes (De Niro), who claims to have been a florist in his career but is in fact a retired CIA counterintelligence officer. And not quite as retired as he claims. Chaos ensues, including the aforementioned urn destruction, injuries and bad behavior from Jack’s beloved cat Mr. Jinx.
(L to R) Blythe Danner and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Danner played Dina, Jack’s wife who is much less stress-inducing than him, but still less easygoing than Greg’s family. Yet despite all the madness, Greg does manage to convince Jack he’s worthy of Pam and ends up engaged.
That film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $166.2 million domestically and a total of $330.4 million worldwide.
A sequel was greenlit, with Roach returning to direct and Herzfeld and Hamburg once more writing. In 2004’s ‘Meet the Fockers,’ Greg and Pam decide to have Jack and Dina meet his parents.
The eccentric, fun-loving and free-spirited couple are, Bernie Focker (Dustin Hoffman), a lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-dad, and Roz (Barbra Streisand), a sex therapist for elderly couples. While Dina bonds with the Fockers, cracks form between Jack and the Fockers due to their contrasting personalities and backgrounds.
There’s also the small matter of Greg potentially having fathered a child as a teenager with the Focker family house-keeping and renewed tension with Jack. Yet it all works out happily and Greg and Pam marry at the end.
‘Meet the Fockers’ was an even bigger hit, earning more than $279 million domestically and more than $522 million worldwide.
The world had to wait until 2010 for the third entry, ‘Little Fockers,’ which saw Hamburg back writing, this time alongside Larry Stuckey. Paul Weitz took over directing chores.
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‘Little Fockers,’ which finds Greg and Pam preparing to celebrate the fifth birthday of their twins Samantha and Henry.
However, things seem to go awry for Greg when his in-laws, Jack and Dina Byrnes, visit them, and Jack announces he is looking for his successor as the head of the Byrnes family. Jack’s family has been hit by his daughter’s (Pam’s sister) divorce and more disruption, plus some health issues.
Yet more madness follows, though it ends well for both men, even if Greg’s parents announce they’re moving to Chicago to be closer to him and Pam.
This third film was critically panned and not as successful as the previous two entries, ending up with a worldwide total of $310.7 million.
Where else can we see Owen Wilson?
Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Wilson hasn’t been seen on the big screen since 2023’s ‘Haunted Mansion’, but he’s had work on TV, appearing as Morbius in Marvel’s ‘Loki’ and is currently to be found playing a former golf champion mentoring a talented new young player on Apple TV+ series ‘Stick’.
Upcoming movie work includes medical transport thriller ‘Runner’ and Jeremy Garelick’s new comedy ‘Rolling Loud’, about a father who takes his son to a wild hip-hop festival.
When will the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie hit theaters?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Since the details are now starting to come together, Universal is confident enough to plant a flag for this one: the new movie will be out on November 25th, 2026.
And Paramount Pictures has announced it will co-produce the movie and distribute it outside the U.S.
(L to R) Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
List of Movies in the ‘Meet the Parents’ Franchise:
If you’re not sure what you’re on about, you might want to cast your mind back to last December, when the news broke that Universal had started the gears turning on a new instalment of the ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise.
That’s not all: John Hamburg, who wrote all three previous movies not only came back to tackle the screenplay again, but will direct the new entry, the title of which remains under wraps.
What’s the story of the ‘Meet the Parents’ movies?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The idea for the ‘Parents’ franchise actually originated years before Ben Stiller accidentally knocked an urn full of ashes from a mantle or milking a cat was ever discussed.
Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke created and co-wrote an independent film, also titled ‘Meet the Parents,’ back in 1992.
Glienna directed, wrote two original songs, and starred as protagonist Greg: a Chicago advertising agent who travels with his fiancée Pam Burns to meet her parents, Irv and Kay, over a weekend but sets off a series of accidents and causes the family to fall apart.
After Pam’s sister Fay commits suicide, framing Greg in the process, Irv attempts to shoot him but accidentally kills Kay and Pam before dying of a heart attack. So… yes, a little darker even than what followed.
Sensing some potential (albeit with less murder/suicide), Universal bought the rights to the indie movie. The studio hired screenwriter Jim Herzfeld to expand the script and tone down some of the sharper edges, which led to what we all now know as ‘Meet the Parents’ in 2000.
Jay Roach directed that film, with John Hamburg re-writing the script. It stars Stiller as Gaylord “Greg” Focker, a male nurse who is looking to propose to his girlfriend, Pam (Polo). Upon learning that Pam’s sister’s fiancé sought her father’s permission to marry, Greg sees an opportunity when they travel to her parents for the wedding.
As it turns out, Pam’s father is the stern, authoritative Jack Byrnes (De Niro), who claims to have been a florist in his career but is in fact a retired CIA counterintelligence officer. And not quite as retired as he claims. Chaos ensues, including the aforementioned urn destruction, injuries and bad behavior from Jack’s beloved cat Mr. Jinx.
(L to R) Blythe Danner and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Danner played Dina, Jack’s wife who is much less stress-inducing than him, but still less easygoing than Greg’s family. Yet despite all the madness, Greg does manage to convince Jack he’s worthy of Pam and ends up engaged.
That film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $166.2 million domestically and a total of $330.4 million worldwide.
A sequel was greenlit, with Roach returning to direct and Herzfeld and Hamburg once more writing. In 2004’s ‘Meet the Fockers,’ Greg and Pam decide to have Jack and Dina meet his parents.
The eccentric, fun-loving and free-spirited couple are, Bernie Focker (Dustin Hoffman), a lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-dad, and Roz (Barbra Streisand), a sex therapist for elderly couples. While Dina bonds with the Fockers, cracks form between Jack and the Fockers due to their contrasting personalities and backgrounds.
There’s also the small matter of Greg potentially having fathered a child as a teenager with the Focker family house-keeping and renewed tension with Jack. Yet it all works out happily and Greg and Pam marry at the end.
‘Meet the Fockers’ was an even bigger hit, earning more than $279 million domestically and more than $522 million worldwide.
The world had to wait until 2010 for the third entry, ‘Little Fockers,’ which saw Hamburg back writing, this time alongside Larry Stuckey. Paul Weitz took over directing chores.
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‘Little Fockers,’ which finds Greg and Pam preparing to celebrate the fifth birthday of their twins Samantha and Henry.
However, things seem to go awry for Greg when his in-laws, Jack and Dina Byrnes, visit them, and Jack announces he is looking for his successor as the head of the Byrnes family. Jack’s family has been hit by his daughter’s (Pam’s sister) divorce and more disruption, plus some health issues.
Yet more madness follows, though it ends well for both men, even if Greg’s parents announce they’re moving to Chicago to be closer to him and Pam.
This third film was critically panned and not as successful as the previous two entries, ending up with a worldwide total of $310.7 million.
As for what might happen in a future entry? We predict tension, slapstick and chances for family bonding. There’s a chance that Hoffman and Streisand could return as Greg’s parents.
Could Grande be playing one of Greg and Pam Focker’s kids in the new ‘Parents’ movie? The timing is a little skewed, but she did, after all, play a college student in ‘Wicked’…
Unless you have somehow been trapped under a wayward Kansas farmhouse dropped by a tornado, you’ll know that Grande is a music superstar with seven studio albums, a soundtrack album, a live album, a remix album, a compilation album, and two EPs to her name, plus 61 singles, including 17 as a featured artist, and 15 promotional singles.
She has won Grammys and a host of other awards, but these days appears to be leaning more towards her acting career.
That’s largely thanks to the success of ‘Wicked,’ which shattered box office records, becoming the most successful Broadway musical film adaptation of all time, earning almost $800 million worldwide. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Picture, winning for Costume Design and Production Design (Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress).
Grande will be back as Glinda the Good in the second half of the ‘Wicked’ story, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ which will be in theaters on November 21st.
When will the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie hit theaters?
Since the details are now starting to come together, Universal is confident enough to plant a flag for this one: the new movie will be out on November 25th, 2026.
(L to R) Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
List of Movies in the ‘Meet the Parents’ Franchise:
(Left) Michelle Monaghan in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO. (Right) Adam Scott in ‘Severance’, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Preview:
Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott are joining crime thriller ‘The Whisper Man.’
Robert De Niro is starring in the movie.
James Ashcroft will direct the adaptation of the Alex North novel.
Since their time spent working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directors Joe and Anthony Russo have launched production company AGBO and embarked on directing several movies of their own while producing shows and films for others, including via a deal with Netflix.
AGBO’s Netflix output has included 2019’s ‘Mosul,’ 2020 Chris Hemsworth starrer ‘Extraction,’ while 2022 saw the release of Ryan Gosling/Chris Evans spy thriller ‘The Gray Man’ (which reached No. 7 on Netflix’s all-time most popular film list despite some seriously mixed reviews), and 2023 sequel ‘Extraction 2.’ All three of the titles reached the Netflix Top 10 list in 93 countries.
‘The First Omen’s Ben Jacoby and ‘It’ veteran Chase Palmer have written the script for the new movie.
Here’s what the AGBO team said when ‘The Whisper Man’ was first announced:
“AGBO is excited to be embarking on our 6th film with our incredible partners at Netflix. ‘The Whisper Man’ is a gripping thriller but at its core is a poignant and complex story of father and sons. We are grateful to have one of the finest actors of his generation, Robert De Niro, anchoring that story and with the remarkable James Ashcroft directing.”
The cameras are scheduled to start rolling this spring on the East Coast and now, via Deadline, word arrives that the film’s cast is expanding to include Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott.
Here’s the official synopsis of the book: after the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.
But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.
Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice.
Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.
While no character details have been revealed for the movie, we’re thinking Scott will play Kennedy, while the film’s synopsis mentions he has an estranged retired police detective for a father, so that’s a role we could see De Niro taking.
As for Monaghan, might she be detective Beck?
Where else can we see Michelle Monaghan?
Michelle Monaghan in ‘Bad Monkey,’ premiering August 14, 2024 on Apple TV+.
Monaghan is scoring great reviews currently playing Jaclyn Lemon on ‘The White Lotus’, a TV actor on vacation with friends at a luxury resort in Thailand when old rivalries and issues surface.
She’s also been seen recently on Apple TV+ series ‘Bad Monkey’ and on the streaming service’s 2023 action comedy ‘The Family Plan,’ the sequel to which is currently in production.
On top of that, she played a detective in last year’s ‘MaXXXine,’ Ti West’s wrap-up to his horror trilogy.
Where else can we see Adam Scott?
Adam Scott in ‘Severance’, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Scott is back as Mark Scout for the second season of workplace drama mystery ‘Severance,’ which is getting good notices on Apple TV+.
He was part of the bloody first scene in Osgood Perkins’ horror movie ‘The Monkey,’ where he played Captain Petey Shelborn.
Last year, Scott was seen in Sony’s Spider-Man spin-off ‘Madame Web’ as Ben Parker.
Coming up, he has comedy thriller ‘The Saviors’ and horror title ‘Hokum.’
And he’s planning to make his feature directorial debut with thriller ‘Double Booked.’
When will ‘The Whisper Man’ be on our screens?
With the movie produced by AGBO under its deal with Netflix, we do know it’ll be headed to the streaming service, but neither company has said anything about a release date yet.
Robert De Niro in 1991’s ‘Cape Fear’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Premiering on Netflix on February 20th, ‘Zero Day’ ponders how America might react to a catastrophic cyber-attack on its services, transport and technology, with the lingering threat of another.
Big questions are asked, as they always are, about how personal freedom could be compromised in the search for safety, and how much the country’s elected leaders must answer to the general public for their actions in times of crisis and beyond.
Beyond a TV movie about Bernie Madoff and a quirky, little-seen Italian comedy series from a couple of years ago, Robert De Niro’s primary contributions to TV have been as an executive producer on a handful of shows.
But we live in an age when actors of any stature are lured by prestige small screen productions (and we’re sure the healthy paycheck from Netflix’s deep pockets didn’t hurt). Here, the man who made his name playing angry young men and his since transitioned to acting as compromised authority figures or senior mob figures, takes on a timely and careworn role as a former politician forced into an impossible situation.
Boasting Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim and Michael S. Schmidt as its co-creators and executive producers, you knew the shows wasn’t completely going to be a first-base exploration of the issues surrounding presidential (or in this case former presidential) power and the sacrifices in morals and ethics that are made in the name of patriotism and safety.
With the space to breathe that a limited series provides in place of a movie, there is the chance to explore more about the central figure especially, and De Niro’s Mullen is a complicated man, a decorated veteran and (mostly) beloved former President who resigned after the death of his son –– but if you thought that was all there was to it, you’ve clearly never seen a movie or show such as this before.
And yet if we’re honest, this show is more about the driving plot that truly deep characterizations. We learn some about other players on the show (including Mullen’s wife and bitter politico daughter), but for the most part it’s getting us to the next revelation. Which is also a key element of these sorts of stories.
It’s smartly told, though at least one “surprise” was something you’ll see coming from several miles away, not least because of the casting. And the actual plot line, about a one-minute-long attack on vital services that has echoes of 9/11, is perfunctory, but works well enough.
‘Homeland’ veteran Lesli Linka Glatter, meanwhile, is show’s only director and also executive producer and brings a sense of steel and weight to the proceedings.
Netflix certainly gave the team the budget to make this one look slick, though if you’re after pulse-pounding action, that’ s again not really what the show is about. There are a few set pieces, but the driving force here is people in offices talking about the next step or accusing each other of cover-ups/betrayals.
If you’ve got Robert De Niro agreeing to star in your limited series, of course you’re going to give him something meaty to chew on. President Mullen here is a layered character, a man who tried to do the right thing in office, but here finds himself much more compromised given the shifting political tones of the day.
And he’s also someone who is starting to suffer the maladies of his age –– while he’s concerned about someone using a secretive weapon against him that is disrupting his mind, the series is smart enough to keep us guessing as to whether it’s just someone whose faculties are going.
Around De Niro we have Joan Allen as his wife, Sheila, who mostly has the steadfast role to play in his life, but does have some shades of her own, including the fact that she’s running for a supreme court role. Then there’s Alexandra Mullen (Lizzy Caplan), who has a troubled relationship with her father, especially since he tried to stop her going into politics herself (she’s a congressional representative these days). Caplan is good in the role, though her character is written in somewhat predictable fashion.
Then we have the fixer characters, particularly Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell (who once served in the White House) and Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), who is close to Mullen but also has dodgy business connections. They’re both excellent in their roles, calculated and charming in equal measure.
Angela Bassett, meanwhile, is President Evelyn Mitchell, the current head of state, but though she has a couple of decent scenes (which Bassett naturally knocks out of the park), it’s not much of a role.
Finally, there is ambitious Speaker of the House Richard Dreyer, played by Matthew Modine. No fan of Mullen’s, he’s pushing for further action to be taken and has his own agenda.
Released at a time when the federal government is not, shall we say operating at peak efficiency (despite what the people in charge might say), ‘Zero Day’ feels like an eerily prescient peek into what could happen (though we don’t see Joe Biden stepping up to run an investigative commission if it did) and a decently diverting thriller series that has its share of genre tropes but doesn’t lean too heavily into them.
As Robert De Niro’s first big American TV series (well, miniseries), it’s not always worthy of his presence, but it works when it needs to.
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What’s the plot of ‘Zero Day’?
Robert De Niro stars as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber-attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
As disinformation runs rampant and the personal ambition of power brokers in technology, Wall Street, and government collide, Mullen’s unwavering search for the truth forces him to confront his own dark secrets while risking all he holds dear.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Joan Allen about her work on ‘Zero Day’, his first reaction to the project, her character’s relationship with her husband, working with Robert De Niro and the rest of the cast, and the importance of having one director for the entire series.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Allen, Matthew Modine, director by Lesli Linka Glatter, and showrunners Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this project and the opportunity to play this character?
Joan Allen: I thought the writing was terrific and that Robert De Niro was playing the main character, who I had admired so much for all my years as an actor. It was very exciting, and I loved our wonderful director, Lesli Glatter. When I met and spoke with her, she was incredibly inspiring and I was like, “I want to work with that lady.”
MF: Can you talk about George and Sheila’s marriage and how she supports him throughout the series?
JA: They are a team and Lesli emphasized that, and I really liked that as we were playing the scenes. He trusts her as maybe his most trusted confidant and adviser. I think she believes she’s not afraid to share her opinions with him. She also respects and admires him and believed in his presidency and the policies that he put forth. So, I think they’re a team and I would say not even that she supports him, they support each other. They work together is what it felt like and it’s a great relationship.
MF: What is Robert De Niro like to have as a scene partner?
JA: He’s just the best. I mean, there were wonderful actors in the entire series and he’s just incredibly generous, open, giving, and very obviously incredibly smart in terms of what the scene is about and he’s just a wonderful collaborator. It was just a joy to be with him every day.
MF: The series features an extraordinary cast of actors. What was it like for you to work with this ensemble?
JA: I just was so happy every day. I was so happy to come to work. They are lovely, wonderful actors, terrific human beings and great people. We just had had a fantastic time working. It was just a joy. They were all such fine actors, and I was glad to be to be working with them. I was very grateful.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with director Lesli Linka Glatter and was it helpful to have the same person directing the entire series?
JA: It was very grounding for me, very grounding and made me feel extremely safe because it was cohesive. So, you’re not going back and forth and dealing with talking with showrunners, et cetera. It’s like, there’s an anchor. She’s always going to be there. She’s incredibly prepared, knowledgeable, and on her game. It’s great to go to work knowing my director is there and you build a communication. It builds as you spend more time together and knowing that she was going to be there for the whole duration, made an enormous difference to me.
VJXaY1ltAWlRduERCZmfw2
What’s the plot of ‘Zero Day’?
Robert De Niro stars as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber-attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
As disinformation runs rampant and the personal ambition of power brokers in technology, Wall Street, and government collide, Mullen’s unwavering search for the truth forces him to confront his own dark secrets while risking all he holds dear.
Preview:
