Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler‘s “Miami Vice” reboot is officially confirmed, with the new title “Miami Vice ’85.”
The Universal film, from “F1” and “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski, is scheduled for release on Aug. 6, 2027. Production on the movie, which will be filmed for Imax, will start later this year.
Jordan, the newly minted best actor Oscar winner, will star as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, with Oscar nominee Butler playing James “Sonny” Crockett. (Philip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson first portrayed the suave South Florida detectives in the classic 80s TV series; then Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx starred in the first big-screen adaptation, 2006’s “Miami Vice,” directed by Michael Mann.)
Jordan and Butler were first reported as being in talks to star in the film last year. “Michael is someone I’ve admired for a long time, [and] always wanted to work with him. Austin, I think, is proving himself as someone to watch. Again, I’ve just have really admired his choices,” Kosinski told Variety at the time, explaining why the duo topped his wish list. “If it ends up being those two, I’d be very lucky.”
Indeed, Jordan and Butler join the film at the top of their respective games. Jordan won the Academy Award, SAG-AFTRA’s Actor Award and two NAACP Awards for his dual-performance in Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster hit “Sinners.” Next, he stars in, directed and produced a reimagining of “The Thomas Crown Affair” for Amazon MGM Studios, the sexy trailer for which electrified the CinemaCon audience. Jordan is represented by 1v1 Entertainment, WME, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, and 2PM Sharp
Butler added Baz Luhmrann to his list of collaborations with auteur filmmakers (and a best actor Oscar nod) with his transformative performance as Elvis Presley in “Elvis.” Since, Butler starred in films for Denis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part Two”), Jeff Nichols (“The Bikeriders”), Darren Aronofsky (“Caught Stealing”) and Ari Aster (“Eddington”). Butler will next star in the A24 crime thriller “Enemies” with Jeremy Allen White. He is represented by WME, Brillstein, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern and 2PM Sharp.
Per the film’s logline, Kosinski’s “Miami Vice ’85” will explore “the glamour and corruption of mid-80’s Miami” and is “inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the landmark television series that influenced culture and set the style of everything from fashion to filmmaking.”
Dan Gilroy penned the script, based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich from the TV series, which was executive produced by Yerkovich and Mann. Eric Warren Singer wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay.
Dylan Clark (for Dylan Clark Productions) and Kosinski serve as producers on the film. Executive VP of production development Sara Scott and creative executive of production development Christina Hoffrogge will oversee the project for the studio.
Kosinski, Clark and Gilroy are represented by CAA. Kosinski is also represented by Untitled Entertainment and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern; Clark is also represented by 42West; and Gilroy is also represented by LBI and Behr Abramson Levy Johnson.
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