Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler are reportedly in preliminary discussions to star in Joseph Kosinski’s upcoming reboot of Miami Vice, with Universal Pictures planning a release date of August 6, 2027. The casting news follows weeks of speculation and confirms that both actors are being considered for the lead roles, a significant development for the highly anticipated remake.
Butler and Jordan Expected to Portray Iconic Characters
Austin Butler is expected to take on the role of James “Sonny” Crockett, originally portrayed by Don Johnson in the 1980s television series and later by Colin Farrell in Michael Mann’s 2006 film adaptation. Michael B. Jordan is set to play Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, a role first made famous by Philip Michael Thomas and reprised by Jamie Foxx in the 2006 movie. These characters are central to the story, and their casting marks a major step forward in the project’s development.
Austin Butler’s Rising Career and Notable Achievements
Should Butler be confirmed for the role, this would mark another significant milestone in his career. His breakthrough came from Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, but he gained international acclaim playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis. Butler earned several prestigious awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Recently, he appeared in films such as Dune: Part Two and Caught Stealing, which was released last August.
Joseph Kosinski’s Vision and Production Details
Director Joseph Kosinski, fresh off the success of Top Gun: Maverick and the Apple project F1: The Movie, is set to helm the Miami Vice reboot. The film’s logline reveals it is inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the original series, which shaped ’80s culture and influenced fashion and filmmaking. This suggests the reboot may maintain a period setting rather than updating to a modern timeframe. Kosinski plans to shoot the film in IMAX and will produce alongside Dylan Clark. The screenplay is being written by Eric Warren Singer and Dan Gilroy.
Project Timeline and Future Expectations
Universal Pictures has scheduled production to begin early next year in preparation for the August 2027 release. While Butler and Jordan’s participation is still not officially finalized, their involvement would bring star power and fresh energy to the project. Fans and industry observers will watch closely as contract negotiations advance, anticipating how the reboot will honor the original series while bringing a new take to these iconic characters.
The Lasting Impact of Miami Vice’s Culture and Style
The original Miami Vice series left a significant mark on pop culture, setting trends in both fashion and cinematic style. Joseph Kosinski’s intent to draw heavily from the show’s early episodes indicates a desire to capture that unique aesthetic and cultural influence once again. This reboot not only aims to reignite interest in the story but also to introduce the legendary vibe of Miami’s 1980s nightlife to a contemporary audience, potentially influencing future filmmaking trends in similar ways.
“Elvis”; he earned a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for the role, as well as an Oscar nod for Best Actor. But Butler’s rise to stardom started earlier, arguably with his breakout role in Quentin Tarantino‘s
“Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood.”
“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.”
