Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler Just Broke the Internet in the First Look at Miami Vice ’85

Universal Pictures has officially pulled back the curtain on one of the most unexpected blockbuster pairings in modern Hollywood history. Cameras are rolling, and the very first official look at Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler in Miami Vice ’85 has arrived online. The film is officially in production under the direction of Joseph Kosinski, the visionary filmmaker behind Top Gun: Maverick and F1.

The internet went wild the moment the studio released the promotional images showing the two leading men stepping into the shoes of Miami’s most celebrated undercover detectives. Austin Butler takes over the role of James “Sonny” Crockett, originally immortalized on television by Don Johnson. Standing right beside him is Michael B. Jordan, stepping up as the razor-sharp Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, a role first brought to life by Philip Michael Thomas.

Hollywood revivals often trigger collective eye-rolls from audiences tired of recycled ideas. Yet this project feels completely different. Instead of bringing the classic cops into our modern world of smartphones, GPS trackers, and drone surveillance, Kosinski is steering the ship in reverse. As the title confirms, the new movie takes audiences right back into the neon-soaked, humid, and dangerous world of South Florida in 1985.

Between the star power at the center of the project, a massive ensemble supporting cast, and an award-winning creative team behind the camera, this movie aims to be a landmark cinema event. Universal has locked in a global theatrical release date for May 19, 2028, and it is being built from the ground up for massive IMAX screens.

Why Going Back to 1985 Is a Complete Game Changer

When Universal Pictures and director Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to theaters back in 2006, they took a very dark route. That film starred Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, and it stripped away almost all the bright pastel colors, synthesizer music, and breezy charm of the 1980s television show. The 2006 adaptation was gritty, modern, shadowy, and shot on early high-definition digital video. While it eventually gained a cult following among film students and hardcore action fans, casual audiences walked away feeling like it missed the fun of the original television sensation.

Choosing to set this new story squarely in 1985 proves that Joseph Kosinski understands what made the brand legendary in the first place. The mid-1980s in Miami was a time and place unlike any other on earth. It was an era of shocking contrasts. On one corner, you had billionaire wealth, multimillion-dollar waterfront mansions, custom offshore racing boats, and luxury supercars cruising down Ocean Drive. On the next corner, you had the violent fallout of an international drug pipeline pouring cash, weapons, and chaos into the city streets.

Cops during that era did not hide in dark vans staring at computer screens. The real undercover officers who inspired the original series had to look richer, faster, and flashier than the criminals they chased. They lived on seized luxury yachts, wore unbuttoned designer linen suits with rolled-up sleeves, drove impounded exotic Italian sports cars, and spent lavish amounts of dirty money just to earn an invitation onto private airstrips.

By keeping the timeline locked in 1985, the creative team frees the film from modern storytelling hurdles. There are no cell phone pings tracking their locations. There are no body cameras recording every move. The tension comes from two undercover partners standing alone in a room full of heavily armed cartel kingpins, armed with little more than a silver-plated sidearm and their own fast-talking confidence.

The New Crockett and Tubbs: Casting Made in Cinema Heaven

Pulling off a buddy-cop crime drama requires chemistry that cannot be faked. If the two lead actors do not genuinely click, the entire movie falls flat on its face. Looking at the resumes of Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan, it is clear why Universal and Kosinski fought to bring them together.

Austin Butler as James “Sonny” Crockett

Austin Butler has experienced a phenomenal rise over the past several years. His Oscar-nominated performance in Elvis proved he has natural screen charisma and magnetic star power. He followed that up by disappearing entirely into the terrifying villain Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two, and showing off gritty, leather-jacket cool in The Bikeriders.

Taking on Sonny Crockett lets Butler tap right back into effortless, smoldering charm. Crockett is an army veteran turned burnout Miami detective who lives on a sailboat with a pet alligator named Elvis. He is constantly walking a razor-thin line between serving the law and losing himself inside his undercover identity, Sonny Burnett.

The first-look set pictures from the production reveal Butler in full pastel tailoring, aviator sunglasses, and loosely styled blonde hair. He carries the exact swagger needed for a detective who looks like a rock star while hunting dangerous smugglers through Everglades swamps.

Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs

Michael B. Jordan remains one of the most reliable and physically commanding movie stars working today. From his career-defining work as Adonis Creed across the Creed franchise to his magnetic, unforgettable villain Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, Jordan understands how to bring fierce intensity and emotional vulnerability to the big screen.

Ricardo Tubbs has always been the classy, disciplined counterpart to Crockett’s loose-cannon attitude. Tubbs is an undercover New York cop who travels down south to track down the men responsible for killing his brother. He dresses sharply in double-breasted suits, moves with calculated precision, and brings cool northern style into the blistering Florida sun.

Jordan brings an undeniable gravity to Tubbs. He has both the physical presence to handle explosive shootouts and the dramatic range to sell the heartbreak and revenge driving the detective’s mission. Seeing Jordan and Butler share the screen promises the kind of electric dynamic Hollywood has not seen since the heyday of classic 1980s and 1990s action thrillers.

The Creative Powerhouse Behind the Scenes

Great actors need visionary leadership, and Miami Vice ’85 has gathered a top-tier creative team.

At the center of it all is director Joseph Kosinski. Kosinski has established himself as Hollywood’s premier builder of modern, practical-effects spectacle. When he made Top Gun: Maverick, critics wondered if anyone still cared about fighter pilots from the 1980s. Kosinski responded by putting actors into real cockpit cockpits, delivering breathtaking real-world aerial photography, and generating almost $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.

Kosinski understands how to respect legacy intellectual property while making it feel fast, immediate, and larger than life. Just as modern studios navigate massive corporate shifts across the industry, filmmakers who know how to put spectacle on screen remain the lifeblood of theatrical cinema. You can see how major Hollywood power dynamics are shifting behind the scenes across major studios in our report on how Hollywood mega mergers and studio acquisitions are transforming blockbusters.

Kosinski is not working alone. Producing alongside him is Dylan Clark, the celebrated producer who helped craft the gritty, atmospheric detective world of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. If you want a sense of how Clark approaches intricate detective fiction and pulse-pounding action, take a look at our breakdown of the latest surprising creative moves surrounding The Batman sequel.

The screenplay for Miami Vice ’85 comes from the talented Dan Gilroy and Eric Warren Singer. Gilroy, who wrote and directed the dark crime masterpiece Nightcrawler, brings a razor-sharp understanding of human ambition, street crime, and dangerous night worlds. Singer, who co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick and American Hustle, knows how to craft high-stakes period dialogue and fast-paced narratives. Their script pulls its primary inspiration directly from the television show’s groundbreaking 1984 two-hour pilot episode, “Brother’s Keeper,” written by Anthony Yerkovich.

An All-Star Supporting Cast That Demands Attention

A production like this needs an exceptional bench of actors to populate the criminal underworld and police precincts of Miami. Universal has assembled a cast filled with recognizable, powerhouse talent.

The Criminal Underworld

The film brings together some of the most versatile character actors in the business to play the adversaries:

• John Leguizamo: Leguizamo is an absolute screen legend who actually appeared in the original television series during its early years as a guest star. In Miami Vice ’85, he steps into a central role as a ruthless cartel kingpin. His natural charisma and ability to snap between warmth and terrifying violence make him an incredible choice to run Miami’s smuggling networks.
• Walton Goggins: Fresh off his scene-stealing work in hit television series like Fallout and The White Lotus, Goggins joins the film as a high-ranking villain. Goggins excels at playing unpredictable, charming, and dangerous men who smile right before pulling the trigger.
• Edi Gathegi: Known for his sharp, commanding screen presence, Gathegi brings quiet menace to the criminal syndicate facing off against Crockett and Tubbs.

The Police Department and Key Allies

The police squad and civilian allies surrounding Crockett and Tubbs are equally stacked:

• Alden Ehrenreich: The talented actor who played Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story and delivered a standout turn in Oppenheimer joins the team in a key detective role.
• André Holland: A celebrated dramatic heavyweight best known for Moonlight and The Knick, Holland adds deep gravitas to the precinct leadership.
• Camila Morrone: The Emmy-nominated star of Daisy Jones & the Six brings style and emotional complexity to the Florida backdrop.
• Whitney Peak: Rising talent Whitney Peak adds youthful energy and grit to the ensemble.
• Danny Ramirez: Having previously worked with Kosinski on Top Gun: Maverick, Ramirez steps back in to bring sharp tactical action to the team.
• Andrew Schulz: The popular comedian and actor joins the cast in a supporting role, bringing quick-witted street banter to the squad.
• Michael Irby: A veteran character actor famous for playing hardened operatives, Irby helps ground the precinct with authentic law enforcement grit.

When studios commit this level of budget and top-tier talent to a single theatrical project, it mirrors the aggressive bets tech giants and legacy studios are making on blockbuster entertainment. You can explore how major media giants are re-evaluating long-term entertainment spending in our look at Apple’s massive new Hollywood strategy for movies and TV.

Capturing the Visuals: Neon Lights, Fast Boats, and Pure 1980s Style

The original Miami Vice did not just tell stories about cops. It completely changed global fashion, interior design, architecture, and television cinematography. When the series first aired on NBC in the fall of 1984, the network famously told creator Anthony Yerkovich and executive producer Michael Mann two simple words: “MTV Cops.”

Mann ordered his crew to eliminate all earth tones from the show. Browns, tans, and dull greens were strictly banned from sets, cars, and wardrobes. In their place came soft pastel pinks, baby blues, turquoise, peach, pristine white, and lavender. Architecture favored clean Art Deco lines, glowing neon signs, glass blocks, and modern beachfront compounds. Men around the world threw out their heavy wool suits and began wearing pastel cotton jackets over simple V-neck t-shirts without socks in Italian slip-on loafers.

Kosinski and his production designers are reviving that bold design language on an epic scale. The early set photos emerging from production confirm that Butler and Jordan are wearing sharp period tailoring designed specifically to pop against the humid night air and ocean spray.

Filming is taking place with real equipment, practical boats, and custom-tuned sports cars on location. Just as Kosinski used real aircraft for Maverick, he is setting up high-speed water chase sequences using real offshore racing boats in coastal waters. The visual spectacle is being shot with high-resolution IMAX cameras. Seeing midnight powerboat pursuits through Biscayne Bay illuminated by neon light towers on a giant six-story IMAX screen is designed to blow modern audiences away.

Audiences love when classic retro culture gets a massive modern revival, whether it is music, fashion, or vintage technology making an unexpected comeback. You can see how nostalgia continues to drive global trends in our report on how retro compact discs are staging a huge modern comeback.

Will the Soundtrack Deliver That Iconic Synth Sound?

You cannot talk about Miami Vice without talking about its music. The original show was famous for using popular chart-topping hits and an unforgettable instrumental electronic score composed by Jan Hammer. Hammer’s synthesizer-driven main theme song actually reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1985, a feat that almost never happens for television soundtracks.

The series also gave audiences one of the most legendary musical sequences in television history. In the pilot episode, Crockett and Tubbs drive a black Ferrari Daytona through the dark, wet streets of Miami at night, preparing for a deadly showdown, while Phil Collins’ iconic track “In the Air Tonight” plays in the background. The scene created the blueprint for how music and cinematic storytelling work together.

While Universal has not officially announced the composer for Miami Vice ’85, Joseph Kosinski has an incredible track record with movie soundtracks. For TRON: Legacy, he hired the legendary electronic duo Daft Punk, creating one of the most celebrated sci-fi synth scores in modern history. For Top Gun: Maverick, he collaborated with Hans Zimmer, Harold Faltermeyer, and Lady Gaga.

Fans can expect Miami Vice ’85 to blend throbbing vintage analog synthesizers with modern orchestral power, alongside classic needle drops that transport viewers straight back to the cassette-tape era.

The Road to May 2028: Release Schedule and Filming Timeline

Production on the film is currently underway across carefully chosen East Coast locations and coastal Florida settings. Because Kosinski relies heavily on real practical stunts, complex water photography, and meticulous IMAX visual framing, production and post-production will require significant time to complete.

Universal Pictures has scheduled the worldwide theatrical premiere for May 19, 2028. This plants the film firmly in the prime Memorial Day weekend corridor. That holiday weekend is traditionally reserved for the biggest, most confident summer blockbuster releases of the year.

Studio executives clearly believe that Miami Vice ’85 can be an international box office powerhouse. Setting an action film during a specific historical era while delivering modern practical action gives it strong appeal for multiple generations of moviegoers. Older fans who grew up watching the original series on television get a faithful, stylish homage, while younger fans get to watch two of today’s hottest movie stars tear through a high-stakes action spectacle.

To explore more entertainment stories and discover what else is shaping the industry, check out how other filmmakers are taking over massive franchises in our story on Jon Watts stepping up to direct the next major Star Wars movie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is directing Miami Vice ’85?

The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for directing massive practical action blockbusters including Top Gun: Maverick, TRON: Legacy, Oblivion, and F1.

Who plays Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in the new movie?

Austin Butler stars as Detective James “Sonny” Crockett, and Michael B. Jordan stars as Detective Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs.

When will Miami Vice ’85 be released in theaters?

Universal Pictures has officially scheduled the film for a wide theatrical release on May 19, 2028, with screenings planned across IMAX and standard cinema formats.

Is the new movie connected to the 2006 Colin Farrell film?

No. The 2028 release is a brand-new reboot. Unlike the 2006 film, which was set in modern times with a dark and gritty tone, Miami Vice ’85 returns to the mid-1980s aesthetic, drawing inspiration directly from the original 1984 television series.

Who wrote the screenplay for the movie?

The screenplay was written by Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) and Eric Warren Singer (Top Gun: Maverick, American Hustle), based on characters created by television producer Anthony Yerkovich.

Who else is in the supporting cast?

The supporting ensemble includes John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, Alden Ehrenreich, André Holland, Edi Gathegi, Camila Morrone, Whitney Peak, Danny Ramirez, Michael Irby, and Andrew Schulz.

The arrival of Miami Vice ’85 marks a bold statement for action cinema. In an entertainment landscape crowded with superhero adventures and endless CGI environments, turning the clock back forty years to capture practical boat chases, sharp linen suits, and gritty undercover detective work feels fresh and exciting.

With Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler leading the line and Joseph Kosinski calling the shots, the production has all the ingredients to deliver a cinematic ride that honors the legacy of Crockett and Tubbs while creating something extraordinary for movie fans.

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