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The Irishman star Al Pacino says he would use de-ageing tech to star in Michael Mann's Heat prequel

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Getty Images

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have said they’d be up for using de-ageing technology to make a prequel to one of their most acclaimed films.

The actors, who play young versions of their characters in new Martin Scorsese film The Irishman, were asked by The Independent if they’d consider starring in a film adaptation of the Heat novel that Michael Mann is currently writing.

Not realising the novel is actually a prequel focused on the formative years of their characters Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley – and referencing the climactic events of the 1995 film – Pacino said: “You’d have to ask Michael Mann, but we wouldn’t have Bob.”

After De Niro interjects to alert Pacino that novel is actually set before the events of the 1995 film, Pacino said: “You mean go younger? That I would do for sure.”

De Niro, laughing at the prospect, added: ‘Well, you never know.”

Speaking about the de-ageing technology used in the new Scorsese film, Pacino said: “It’s odd because, when you’re making a film, it’s all about accepting whatever’s going on. You’ll do anything for the context of the film, whether you put a bonnet on or whatever. We had little dots on us, which I got to like after a while. Putting them on became a form of preparation. It was my makeup.”

The Irishman follows Sheeran across several decades of his life, tracking his experiences with labour union teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) and crime boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci).

Mann recently revealed that his Heat prequel will be published in 2020.

Read our full interview with De Niro, Pacino and Stephen Graham here.

The Irishman is on limited release in cinemas now and will be available to stream on Netflix from 27 November.