Universal Pictures has released the first official images of Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan as detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in Miami Vice ’85, the upcoming film adaptation of the popular 1980s television series. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, F1), the film has begun production and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 19, 2028.
Butler takes on the role of James “Sonny” Crockett, originally portrayed by Don Johnson, while Jordan plays Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, the character made famous by Philip Michael Thomas. Written by Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler, Andor), the new film draws inspiration from the original series’ pilot episode and first season, exploring the drug trade, organized crime and corruption of mid-1980s Miami.
The supporting cast includes Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone, Whitney Peak, Danny Ramirez, André Holland, Edi Gathegi, Michael Irby, Walton Goggins and John Leguizamo. The latter previously appeared in the original television series, portraying Orlando Calderone, the son of a prominent drug trafficker.
Created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive produced by Michael Mann, the original Miami Vice premiered on NBC in September 1984 and ran for five seasons through 1989. The crime drama followed two undercover detectives working to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in South Florida.
Beyond its police procedural storylines, the series became known for its distinctive visual style, pastel-colored clothing, expensive sports cars and prominent use of contemporary popular music. Artists including Phil Collins and Glenn Frey contributed songs to the show’s soundtrack, while composer Jan Hammer provided its recognizable instrumental theme. The series received 20 Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its run, winning four.
Miami Vice previously made the transition to the big screen in 2006, with Mann returning to write and direct a contemporary adaptation starring Colin Farrell as Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Tubbs. Unlike the original series, the film abandoned much of the colorful 1980s aesthetic in favor of a darker, more realistic approach to undercover police work, following the two detectives as they infiltrated an international drug trafficking operation.
The 2006 film received mixed reviews and earned approximately $164 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $135 million to $150 million. Although it fell short of commercial expectations, the film has developed a cult following in the years since its release.
Kosinski’s new adaptation will distinguish itself from Mann’s film by returning the story to its original 1980s setting rather than updating the characters for the present day. The project also reunites Kosinski with cinematographer Claudio Miranda, who previously worked with the director on Top Gun: Maverick and F1.
Miami Vice ’85 is scheduled for theatrical release on May 19, 2028.
Source: THR
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