Al Pacino reveals cut Heat scene that will change the way you watch 1995 film

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Al Pacino has shared a deleted scene from Heat that could transform your perspective on the movie.

The actor played detective Vincent Hanna in Michael Mann’s 1995 movie, sharing the screen with Robert De Niro, who portrayed the criminal Neil McCauley. Hanna stands out as one of Pacino’s iconic roles, thanks to his highly unpredictable way of delivering lines.

Al Pacino, who has expressed interest in using de-aging technology for an upcoming adaptation of the prequel Heat 2, recently discussed his choices as an actor in the crime movie. He revealed that his character, Hanna, was using cocaine throughout the film, even though this is not explicitly shown on screen.

In his latest memoir, Pacino, who is 84 years old, discloses that there was initially a scene in the movie showing Hanna using cocaine, but it was removed during editing. This decision significantly impacted the way he portrayed the character.

In "Sonny Boy," Pacino expressed that Hanna faced various personal issues. He was unstable, unpredictable, and prone to outbursts. Hanna also struggled with cocaine use, which significantly influenced the development of my character.

“We filmed a part where I entered a club, and you could see my character doing a line of cocaine before going inside. For some reason, Michael decided to leave that scene out of the movie.”

The actor mentioned that the deleted cocaine scene provided significant context for his character's actions. Without this context, he understands how certain parts of his performance might appear overly dramatic.

He reflected, "If the audience had witnessed a scene or two where Hanna got hurt, I believe they would have been more ready for what I did."

"Even without it, the passion he brought to his life—how Hanna approached his job and tackled various challenges—gave him the leeway to channel such energy. It was like a method he employed as a detective, and it proved effective for him."

Mann is currently developing a movie version of Heat 2, a book he collaborated on with Meg Gardiner. Austin Butler has been cast in the role of Hanna, while Adam Driver will play McCauley.

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In a 2019 interview with The Independent, Al Pacino was asked if he would consider using the same technology for Heat 2 that was employed in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Unaware that the novel was a prequel, he responded, “You would have to check with Michael Mann, but Bob wouldn’t be part of it.”

De Niro, whose character meets his end at the film's conclusion, interrupted to inform Pacino that the story would take place before the events of the 1995 movie. In response, Pacino said, "You mean make the characters younger? Absolutely, I’m on board with that."

Chuckling at the idea, De Niro remarked, "You can never be too sure."

Sonny Boy is now accessible.