Grab your pastel suits and turn up a synth-pop playlist because we’re about to take a trip back to the neon streets of South Beach! It’s been 41 years since Miami Vice first hit our screens and changed pop culture forever, and a new reboot film by Universal Pictures is in the works.
According to multiple reports, Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler have officially been tapped to play the iconic detective duo, Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and James “Sonny” Crockett, in the new film set to release in the summer of 2027. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming reboot, titled Miami Vice ’85.
The new Crockett and Tubbs
Austin Butler, whose recent acclaimed roles included Caught Stealing, The Bikeriders and Dune: Part Two, will take on the role of Sonny Crockett (originally played by Don Johnson). Meanwhile Michael B. Jordan, known for his presence in the Creed franchise and the critically acclaimed Sinners, will play Rico Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas).
What will the film be about?
This isn’t the first time Miami Vice gets a reboot. Many remember Michael Mann’s 2006 film adaptation starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. Unlike that one, which was set in the present-day, Miami Vice ’85 is going back to its roots. As the title implies, the new film will explore “the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami,” per Deadline.
Drawing heavy inspiration from the pilot episode and first season of the series, fans can expect a triumphant return to the pastel fashion and neon lighting that made the original 1984 NBC series a cultural phenomenon.
Who’s behind the camera?
Capturing the scale of 1980s Miami is no easy task, so Universal has enlisted director Joseph Kosinski to take it on. Fresh off the success of Top Gun: Maverick and F1, Kosinski brings a proven track record of blending stylish action with legacy franchises.
The screenplay is written by Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler), building on earlier drafts by Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle). Kosinski and Dylan Clark are producing, but fans may be thrilled to know that original series creator Anthony Yerkovich and Michael Mann will be involved as executive producers.
What’s more, Miami Vice ’85 will be shot entirely for IMAX!
When can we expect to see it?
You’ve still got time to grab your shades and dust off your suits because production for Miami Vice ’85 is slated to begin later this year. The film will then hit theaters on August 6, 2027.
