Director Michael Mann, 83, shoots himself in leg at LA gun range

Director Michael Mann, 83, accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Los Angeles gun range and was taken to hospital in stable condition. His representative described the injury as superficial, according to the Associated Press.

The incident happened at The Range LA, where police responded at around 4pm. TMZ first reported the news, saying Mann had been trying to holster his weapon when the gun discharged. Emergency services were then called and he was transported to a local hospital.

"Responding units' investigation determined the shooting to be accidental. The subject was transported to a local hospital in stable condition," a Los Angeles police department spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter.

What do we know about the injury?

Mann's representative characterized the wound as superficial — in plain terms, a surface-level leg injury rather than anything life-threatening. The LAPD's account confirms he was stable when transported. No further detail on his condition or expected recovery has been released.

Accidental discharge while holstering is a recognized type of range accident: the trigger can catch on clothing or the holster itself as the weapon is being seated. Police treated this as an accident from the start, and no suggestion of anything beyond that appears in any of the reports.

Who is Michael Mann?

Mann is one of Hollywood's longest-established directors, with a career spanning several decades. His major films include:

• Manhunter (1986), the first screen adaptation of Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter novel
• The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
• Heat (1995), widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed crime films of recent decades
• Ferrari (2023), starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz

He also helped create the hit 1980s TV cop show Miami Vice.

What does this change for his upcoming film?

The practical question for film audiences is whether the injury delays Mann's next project. He is preparing to shoot a sequel to Heat, with Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star. Given that his representative called the injury superficial and police reported him in stable condition, there is nothing in the reports to suggest production plans have been affected — though no filming dates have been publicly confirmed in connection with this incident.

The sequel itself is significant: Heat, released in 1995, remains a touchstone of the crime genre, and a follow-up with Bale and DiCaprio would rank among the most closely watched projects on Mann's slate. For now, the director's recovery is the immediate story.