<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (September 2014) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (September 2014) </Td> </Tr> <P> In April 1994, Mann was reported to have abandoned his earlier plan to shoot a biopic of James Dean in favor of directing Heat, producing it with Art Linson . The film was marketed as the first on - screen appearance of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino together in the same scene--both actors starred in The Godfather Part II, but owing to the nature of their roles, they were never seen in the same scene . Pacino and De Niro were Mann's first choices for the roles of Hanna and McCauley, respectively, and they both immediately agreed to act . </P> <P> Mann assigned Janice Polley, a former collaborator on The Last of the Mohicans, as the film's location manager . Scouting locations lasted from August to December 1994 . Mann requested locations which did not appear on film before, in which Polley was successful--fewer than 10 of the 85 filming locations were previously used . The most challenging shooting location proved to be Los Angeles International Airport, with the film crew almost missing out due to a threat to the airport by the Unabomber . </P>

What was the first movie to feature al pacino and robert deniro on screen together