Fans of Michael Mann’s Heat still don’t have to worry; this is nothing to do with the epic De Niro / Pacino face off. Nope, Simon West is simply taking over the directing gig for the remake of the 1986 Burt Reynolds film of the same name. Jason Statham is still aboard to star as a recovering gambling addict who lingers on the fringes of the betting circuit providing protection to those who can afford his pricey, knife-using services. Things change when a friend is nearly killed by a mobster and he wades in to get a little payback. Brian De Palma was originally going to be hoisting the megaphone for this one, but he’s handing it over to West, who worked with Statham on The Mechanic (another remake) and, more recently, The Expendables 2. William Goldman, on whose novel the original film was based, has adapted the new one too, updating the setting to the present day. West will start shooting in February. Statham’s next release is crime thriller Parker, which is out on January 25. He’ll also be seen in Hummingbird and Homefront, which should arrive next year. | 
