Joseph Kosinski’s Miami Vice movie finally has a title, Miami Vice ’85, and Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler have officially signed on to play Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and Sonny Crockett after long circling the project in negotiations.
The movie version of the 1980s TV series is inspired by the police show’s pilot episode and first season and is set for a release by Universal Pictures on Aug. 6, 2027. Miami Vice ’85 will also be a period film, unlike Michael Mann’s 2006 Miami Vice movie that starred Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell.
Butler will play James “Sonny” Crockett, a role originated by Don Johnson in the Universal TV series, while Jordan will portray fellow Miami undercover detective Ricardo Tubbs, which was Philip Michael Thomas’ role on the show.
Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan starred in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Black Panther and Creed III and is set to direct, star and produce a reimagining of The Thomas Crown Affair for Amazon MGM. Oscar nominee Butler played Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis and also appeared in Dune: Part Two, The Bikeriders, Masters of the Air and will also star in the upcoming A24 crime thriller Enemies.
Miami Vice began life as the Anthony Yerkovich-created TV series about two undercover Miami police officers known for their love of pastel suits and ran from 1984 to 1990 on NBC.
Production on the Miami Vice ’85 film will begin this year as Kosinski, coming off directing back-to-back blockbusters with F1: The Movie and Top Gun: Maverick, explores the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami. Kosinski will shoot the film with Imax cameras, much as he did with F1 and Top Gun.
Miami Vice ’85 is produced by Dylan Clark and Kosinski, with Dan Gilroy having penned the script based on characters created by Yerkovich from the series he executive produced with Mann. Eric Warren Singer wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay.
Jordan is represented by 1v1 Entertainment and WME, while Butler is represented by WME and Brillstein. Kosinski is represented by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
