One of television’s most culturally defining series is headed back into the spotlight, and the production behind it is not treating the assignment lightly. Universal Pictures has confirmed that Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler are set to star in Miami Vice ’85, a feature film revival of the landmark 1980s series that reshaped American television, fashion, and popular aesthetics in ways that still echo today.
Jordan will play Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and Butler will take on the role of Sonny Crockett, the two detectives at the center of the original series. The film is slated for release on Aug. 6, 2027, and production is expected to begin later this year.
The creative team behind the revival
The film will be directed by Joseph Kosinski, whose recent track record includes two Best Picture Oscar nominees. His most recent project before this was F1, and before that Top Gun: Maverick, both of which demonstrated his ability to deliver large-scale, visually immersive filmmaking that connects with wide audiences.
Miami Vice ’85 will be filmed for Imax, a decision that signals the scope and visual ambition Universal is bringing to the project. The story draws inspiration from the pilot episode and first season of the original Universal Television series, exploring the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami in what the studio describes as an all-new interpretation rather than a direct adaptation.
The screenplay was written by Dan Gilroy, with an earlier draft contributed by Eric Warren Singer. The film is based on characters originally created by Anthony Yerkovich, who executive produced the original series alongside Michael Mann. Dylan Clark and Kosinski are producing.
What Jordan and Butler are bringing to the table
Jordan arrives at this project carrying significant momentum. His lead performance in Sinners, released in early 2025, earned him an Academy Award and marked the biggest debut for an original film since 2019. It was his fifth collaboration with director Ryan Coogler and cemented his standing as one of the most compelling actors working in Hollywood today.
His next directorial project, a reimagining of The Thomas Crown Affair for Amazon MGM, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in March 2027, just months before Miami Vice ’85 arrives.
Butler, meanwhile, continues to build one of the more interesting careers of his generation. He is set to appear next in Enemies, a crime thriller from A24 alongside Jeremy Allen White, before stepping into the iconic pastel-and-linen world of Crockett.
Why this Miami Vice revival feels different
The original Miami Vice was not simply a television show. It changed how network television looked and sounded, influenced a generation of filmmakers, and set aesthetic trends that defined an entire decade. Reviving it carries both enormous potential and genuine risk.
What separates this attempt from a surface-level nostalgia play is the combination of talent assembled around it. Kosinski has shown he can honor the spirit of beloved properties while making them feel genuinely contemporary. Jordan and Butler are not coasting on name recognition but actively expanding the range of what they are willing to take on. And the decision to shoot for Imax suggests the production has no interest in playing it small.
Whether Miami Vice ’85 can capture what made the original feel electric while standing on its own terms is the question audiences will be asking between now and August 2027. Based on everything announced so far, it appears the people making it are asking the same question and taking it seriously.
