De Palma To Direct Statham In Remake Of HEAT. The Other HEAT.

When you think Heat you probably think Michael Mann, but Burt Reynolds got there first. 1986's Heat is based on a William Goldman novel, but it's pretty much terrible and was a hugely troubled production. Goldman hates the movie, and it's definitely not one of Burt's highlights. 

Now Goldman's getting a new crack at it. Brian De Palma will be directing a new adaptation of the novel, and Jason Statham will be taking the Burt Reynolds role (but who gets the Peter MacNichol part? Do we have a modern Peter MacNichol?). Here's the premise:

Statham plays the recovering gambling addict who makes his living providing protection on the rough edges of the gambling world. When a female friend is beaten by a high-rolling mobster, the enforcer kicks some ass and gets in over his head.

I think Reynolds' output could stand a reevaluation - he truly was a charismatic leading man - but I think Heat is a pretty perfect movie to remake, as it wasn't that good the first time through.