He re-wrote it after making Thief in 1981 hoping to find a director to make it and mentioning it publicly in a promotional interview for his 1983 film The Keep .
In 1979 , Mann wrote a 180 - page draft of Heat .
Mann re-wrote Heat after making Thief in 1981 hoping to find a director to make Heat and mentioning Heat publicly in a promotional interview for Mann 's 1983 film The Keep .
In 1979 , Mann wrote a 180 - page draft of Heat .