Michael Mann (“Collateral,” “Ali”) fans can rejoice that he’s finally back with the HBO Max crime series “Toyko Vice.” In the series, which Mann produces and directs the excellent pilot of (read our review here), we get to see the legendary filmmaker wade into the waters of cops and crooks yet again. Set in Japan, the series focuses on an American crime reporter (Ansel Elgort) who attempts to embed himself in both the worlds of Japanese police and the criminal syndicate known as the Yakuza. While there, the young man also must navigate the culture shock connected to the hierarchy of working for a well-respected Japanese news office (Ken Watanabe also stars).
Mann recently spoke to Emmy’s The Television Academy site to help promote the new show and, in the interview, discussed his growing admiration of the increasing spate of auteur-driven and top-tier television currently on air. Mann, who has worked in TV since the beginning of his career (“Miami Vice,” “The Jericho Mile,” “Luck”), said there’s no reason the format can be “as boldly cinematic as theatrical films.” He joins a growing chorus of directors who had been previously averse to doing television seemingly now sharing this sentiment by developing their own high-profile TV projects.
“To me, television was a different and very exciting kind of narrative. It occurred to me there was zero reason why TV couldn’t be as boldly cinematic as a theatrical film I’d make —like ‘Manhunter,’ for example. Plus, I had stories I wanted to tell and was able to push them out there through forty-four hours of ‘Miami Vice’s first and second seasons. What a great release, especially episodes like ‘Golden Triangle’ or ‘Stone’s War’ or ‘Smuggler’s Blues.’”
Mann also added his own praise for some of the current shows on HBO directed by notable filmmakers. “The way I regard television today is that when so much creativity is let loose, the results at the top get absolutely spectacular,” he said. I” think what Adam McKay is doing with [“Winning Time”] the LA Lakers show on HBO, and the marvelously talented Sam Levinson is doing with [HBO’s] ‘Euphoria’ is brilliant. It is serious work, and it seriously advances narrative form.”
While Mann enjoys the success of “Tokyo Vice,” which is hitting well with critics, the filmmaker is fleshing out his beloved characters from “Heat” with an upcoming novel he co-wrote with Meg Gardiner. The book, titled “Heat 2,” comes out this August features Val Kilmers’ gambler thief Chris Shiherlis, the surviving member of Neil’s crew. But Mann has an itching for more, and in the interview, says he plans to write more ‘Heat’ stories that will go beyond this sequel coming in the summer.
“Yes, and I plan to go beyond the 2002 ending of ‘Heat 2,’” Mann said when asked about more books being on the horizon.” I definitely plan on taking the story further. The character who dominates the last half of the book is Chris Shiherlis, played by Val Kilmer in the original movie. And his fate is left open-ended with him on the frontier edge of a new future. The ‘Heat’ film is a slice of who they are. I had the full spectrum of early life. So, the ability to tell their past stories and imagine their futures in a novel was exciting.”
It’s unclear if “Tokyo Vice” will continue with follow-up seasons or if Mann’s “Heat” books will ever get a live-action treatment. Still, one has to imagine fans would froth at the idea of a “Heat”-related series, even if Mann only executive-produces and or godfathers the project into existence. Dare to dream? Then again, simply having new content from Mann is exciting enough for the moment.