Jason Statham’s 2015 film Wild Card is presented as a stronger adaptation of William Goldman’s 1985 novel Heat than the 1986 Burt Reynolds version, Heat. Both films follow a gambling-addicted former mercenary working as a Las Vegas bodyguard, but the article argues that Statham’s version better delivers the novel’s gritty crime story despite neither adaptation succeeding at the box office.

The plot centres on Nick Wild, formerly Nick “The Mex” Escalante, who seeks revenge for sex worker Holly after gangster Danny DeMarco assaults her, while also trying to win enough money at blackjack to leave Las Vegas for Venice. Reynolds pursued the original film while attempting to revive a faltering career after several disappointments and an injury, but its production was troubled from the outset, including Robert Altman leaving after Goldman refused screenplay changes.