Joseph Kosinski’s big-screen take on Miami Vice has reportedly found its antagonist. According to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter John Leguizamo has joined Miami Vice ’85, with word pointing to him playing the film’s central villain, a cartel boss facing off against the two undercover detectives at the story’s center.
Leguizamo joins a cast already built around Austin Butler as James “Sonny” Crockett and Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, the roles originated by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas on the 1980s television series. Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, and Danny Ramirez round out the previously announced cast, though their specific characters haven’t been disclosed.
Written by Dan Gilroy, with an earlier draft from Eric Warren Singer, Miami Vice ’85 is described as exploring the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami, drawing inspiration from the original series’ pilot episode. The film is based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich, who executive produced the original series alongside Michael Mann. Kosinski, who directed Top Gun: Maverick and F1, is at the helm, with Dylan Clark producing through Dylan Clark Productions alongside Kosinski. Sara Scott and Christina Hoffrogge are overseeing the project for Universal.
The film is set to shoot in New York and Miami, with production expected to begin later this year, and will be shot for IMAX. Universal has set a release date of May 19, 2028.