According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new feature adaptation has locked in both its leading men and a clearer creative blueprint, drawing directly from the original show’s pilot and first season while aiming for a theatrical release through Universal Pictures on Aug. 6, 2027.
A Stylish Revival Takes Shape
Joseph Kosinski’s take on “Miami Vice” now carries the title “Miami Vice ’85,” anchoring the film firmly within the decade that made the original series a cultural force.
The period setting is more than cosmetic. It points to a return to the aesthetic identity that distinguished the show during its NBC run from 1984 to 1989, when pastel fashion, pop music, and sleek excess became as central as the crime stories themselves.
That identity is closely tied to the characters of Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, originally played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. The new film hands those roles to Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, who have now formally committed after an extended negotiation process.
Both actors arrive at a moment of significant career momentum. Jordan has been balancing studio ambitions with auteur-driven projects, recently earning the Best Actors Oscar for “Sinners” while expanding his footprint behind the camera.
Butler, meanwhile, has transitioned from breakout acclaim in “Elvis” to a steady run of high-profile roles, including “Dune: Part Two” and “The Bikeriders,” positioning himself as one of the industry’s most closely watched leading men.
The original “Miami Vice,” created by Anthony Yerkovich and shaped by executive producer Michael Mann, broke from traditional police procedurals by leaning into music, mood, and visual storytelling. Its influence stretched far beyond television, helping define the look and sound of 1980s pop culture while inspiring everything from fashion trends to video games like “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.”