Universal Pictures has confirmed the title and stars of its long-anticipated Miami Vice reboot. ‘Miami Vice ’85’, directed by Joseph Kosinski, will star Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and Oscar nominee Austin Butler as James “Sonny” Crockett. Production begins later this year, with the film set for an IMAX release on August 6, 2027.
The film draws directly from the pilot episode and first season of the original NBC series, exploring the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami. Dan Gilroy, the Oscar-nominated writer behind Nightcrawler, penned the script from an earlier draft by Eric Warren Singer. Dylan Clark produces alongside Kosinski, who is shooting the film for IMAX as he did with Top Gun: Maverick and F1.
Kosinski arrives here on one of the strongest runs in blockbuster filmmaking. Top Gun: Maverick became one of the highest-grossing films of its year, and F1 pulled $634 million globally and earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination. His track record with legacy material is exactly what a project like this demands.
Jordan brings fresh momentum to the role. His Oscar-winning dual performance in Sinners cemented him as one of the most compelling actors working today, and ‘Miami Vice ’85’ marks his first new project since that win. Butler, whose Elvis earned him an Oscar nomination along with Golden Globe and BAFTA wins, follows that with roles in Dune: Part Two, The Bikeriders, and the upcoming A24 crime thriller Enemies before stepping into Crockett’s linen suit.
The original Miami Vice ran from 1984 to 1990, created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive produced by Michael Mann, winning four Emmys and reshaping the visual language of television. Mann directed his own 2006 film adaptation with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. ‘Miami Vice ’85’ hits theaters August 6, 2027.