Michael Mann is among the shortlisted filmmakers who have found widespread success over a number of decades, often through the production of a major Hollywood melodrama film that is both dark and polished.
But with his forthcoming new film Ferrari, the acclaimed director, writer and producer proudly reveals he has no ties to the big studios, which made production possible amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
“The origins of the film and the content of the script, as well as the film that you saw, doesn’t fit into the type of film that would be accepted by the traditional studio system,” the 80-year-old revealed in a new interview with Variety. “It’s really appropriate that this is an independent film distributed by Neon, which is a very independent distributor.”
After reading the interview, in which he also expressed his desire to direct a Heat 2 film, one might assume that Mann actually started pre-production on his Ferrari film 30 years ago, in 1993, when he admits that it was his first visit to Modena, where the film was mainly shot.
As he made his way through the island city decades ago, he documented the various places he visited, such as Ferrari’s hair salon, the outside of his home, and the Cimitero di San Cataldo, the crypt where Ferrari was buried in 1988, 32 years after his their son Dino was buried in 1956.
Long journey: Michael Mann, 80, has slipped into promo mode for his upcoming biographical drama ‘Ferrari,’ while also expressing his desire to direct a second installment of the classic crime film ‘Heat’ in a new interview with Variety
All of the filming locations eventually made it into the final cut of the film, which will have its world premiere on August 31 at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and finally hit theaters in the United States in December.
The four-time Oscar nominee began pre-production three decades ago and has since directed seven films, including Heat (1995), The Insider (1999), Collateral (2004) and Blackhat (2015), and tried also on television. He raised four daughters and co-wrote his best-selling book, Heat 2, with Meg Gardiner.
Ultimately, it wasn’t until 2021 that Mann got the money he needed to realize his vision for the film, which totaled $95 million.
“We’ve had very successful overseas pre-sales and that allowed us to put it together with the Italian tax credits,” the Chicago, Illinois native told Variety. “That allowed us to do the film because it’s not a cheap film.”
Set in 1957, Ferrari examines three pivotal months in the life of Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), the late Italian racing driver and entrepreneur who founded the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix racing team and the luxury sports car manufacturer that bears his name.
During this time, Ferrari’s personal and professional lives were at stake. There are bankruptcy negotiations on the business he and his wife Laura (Penélope Cruz) built from scratch ten years earlier as their marriage hangs in the balance following the revelation of his mistress as they mourn the death of their only son.
And then there is the hunger for victory of its riders, which pushes them to the edge. Ferrari then seemingly stakes everything on a race, the often deadly 1,000-mile race across Italy known as the Mille Miglia.
“Everything he was clashes with what he could become, and the company is broke,” Mann says of Enzo Ferrari, adding, “His wife finds out about the other woman.” It’s a spectacular real-life operatic melodrama .”
During the new interview, Mann more than claimed that his pre-production for Ferrari began way back in 1993, when he visited places important to Enzo Ferrari’s life in Modena, Italy; The late founder of the luxury sports car manufacturer that bears his name is seen in 1952
The premise: Mann’s Ferrari film, which stars Adam Driver, is set in 1957, during the pivotal three months of his life
In addition to Driver and Cruz, the cast also includes Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone, Sarah Gadon, Jack O’Connell, Patrick Dempsey, Michele Savoia, Erik Haugen and Giuseppe Bonifati.
When it comes to creating a compelling story and the filmmaking behind it, Mann strives to create an authentic experience that asks some fundamental questions.
“What is this world?” is often the first thing he asks. And then there’s, ‘How does it feel?’ And what do I have to do to make the audience dream?’ He adds: ‘I know what I want when I go to the cinema: I want to be there.’ I want to dream wide awake for a few hours.’
When crediting Mann with his best work, Heat (1995), starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, that always seems to come up first, which Mann says he’s had no problem with in the three decades since its creation.
Last year, Mann published a 500-page novel he co-wrote with thriller writer Meg Gardiner called Heat 2, which went on to be the #1 New York Times bestseller.
The story revolves around Neil McCauley, the crew leader, played by De Niro in the film, and Pacino’s lieutenant Vincent Hanna, but is written as both a prequel and a sequel to the original Heat timeline.
Another success: Last year, Mann published a 500-page novel he co-wrote with thriller writer Meg Gardiner called Heat 2, which went on to be the #1 New York Times bestseller
Prequel or Sequel: Mann also expressed his desire to do a second Heat film; The 1995 original, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, was written, directed, and produced by Mann
“I don’t want the prequel to be the same people that were in the movie,” explains Mann. “I want them to be very different.” It’s what happens to them — the conflicts, the tragedies that happen to them — that made them who they are.”
Toward the end of the interview, Mann discusses the possibility of making a second part of Heat, reviving the subject of his mortality raised the previous day.
“If I really had to do Heat 2, I wouldn’t have lost myself in this beautiful Ferrari story and it took me two years to write a novel,” he admits. “Luckily, it became a #1 New York Times bestseller. “The things I like are things that fascinate me and push me forward.”
Mann pauses and then adds, “Don’t get me wrong. I want to make it,” he says, referring to Heat 2. “But if I don’t make it, I won’t be incomplete.”