Universal Pictures is officially bringing Miami Vice back to the big screen with a new title, a new vision, and two of Hollywood’s biggest names leading the charge. The upcoming reboot will now be titled ‘Miami Vice ’85’, with Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler set to star as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and James “Sonny” Crockett.
The film will be directed by Joseph Kosinski and is scheduled for theatrical release on August 6, 2027, with production set to be shot for IMAX.
Unlike the 2006 feature adaptation, Miami Vice ’85 goes back to the source material that defined the franchise. The film is inspired by the pilot episode and early first season of the original NBC series created by Anthony Yerkovich, which became a cultural touchstone in the 1980s.
This version will fully embrace the mid-’80s setting—leaning into the neon-lit Miami nightlife, the rise of drug cartels, and the undercover world that made Crockett and Tubbs pop culture icons.
Behind the camera, Kosinski continues his streak of large-scale cinematic storytelling. The screenplay is written by Dan Gilroy, based on characters originally created for the television series. Earlier drafts also included work from Eric Warren Singer. The film is being produced by Dylan Clark alongside Kosinski, with Universal overseeing development.
Both leads arrive at the project at major career highs. Jordan, coming off the success of Sinners and preparing to direct and star in The Thomas Crown Affair, continues expanding his creative footprint as both actor and filmmaker. Butler, meanwhile, has solidified himself as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors following acclaimed performances in Elvis, Dune: Part Two, and The Bikeriders.
Together, they take on roles previously defined by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in the original series, and later reimagined by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the 2006 film.
Miami Vice ’85 is positioning itself as more than a reboot—it’s a full-scale cinematic reimagining. With IMAX cameras, a period-accurate setting, and a focus on the original series’ tone of glamour versus corruption, Universal is aiming to bring the franchise back into cultural conversation for a new generation.
Production is expected to begin later this year ahead of its 2027 release.