Skip to main content
CadNews - Comparative News Analysis
Topics
Sign in
Back to brief

Entertainment · November 14, 2026

New Regency Sues Michael Mann to Retain Rights to ‘Heat’

3 sources →

FreeGet stories like this compared, every morning at 7.

New Regency has filed a lawsuit in California federal court against director Michael Mann to retain ownership of the screenplay for the 1995 film 'Heat'. The legal action follows attempts by Mann earlier this year to exercise copyright termination rights to reclaim his work after roughly 40 years. New Regency argues the screenplay was a 'work made for hire' and is therefore ineligible for termination, while Mann’s representatives express confidence that the courts will vindicate his statutory rights as an author. This dispute occurs as Mann prepares to begin production on 'Heat 2' in early 2026.

Read the original coverage

Reported by multiple outlets

  • New Regency filed a lawsuit against Michael Mann in California federal court.
  • The dispute concerns ownership rights to the original screenplay for the 1995 film 'Heat'.
  • Michael Mann sent termination notices earlier this year to reclaim the copyright.
  • New Regency claims the screenplay was a 'work made for hire'.
  • Mann is preparing to film 'Heat 2'.

Reported by only some outlets

  • Variety and Deadline report filming for 'Heat 2' is set for January or early next year.
  • Deadline identifies the production company as the 'Yariv Milchan-run company'.
  • A spokesperson for Michael Mann states the work evolved from screenplays he wrote during the 1980s.

FreeDaily Brief newsletter

Get the 5-minute Daily Brief, with the topics you pick.

The Daily Brief is free

About these outlets

CadNews does not determine absolute truth or endorse political viewpoints. It compares publicly available reporting, identifies shared facts, highlights framing differences, and flags uncertainty.