Miami Vice: Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan to Star in Reboot

The new "Miami Vice" film is slowly taking shape: there have already been casting reports linking Michael B. Jordan to the role of Rico Tubbs. Now the industry magazine Variety is following up: Austin Butler is likely to be seen as his partner Sonny Crockett.

Both actors are currently in talks with those responsible behind the scenes. There were also recent reports about Glen Powell being cast as Crockett, but that now appears to be off the table. The iconic cop duo was played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in the original series. Back in 2006, a film adaptation by master director Michael Mann was released in cinemas. It starred Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the leading roles.

Both Butler and Jordan have firmly established themselves in Hollywood in recent years. Butler is known for "Dune: Part 2", Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and the biopic "Elvis", among others. Most people will know Michael B. Jordan from "Black Panther" or the "Creed" films. Most recently, he attracted a great deal of attention with the acclaimed horror film "Sinners".

First Details About the Miami Vice Reboot

It is already known that the plot of the new "Miami Vice" film will be based on the pilot and the first season of the original series. The focus will be on corruption and glamor in Miami in the 80s. The reboot is being directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for "Top Gun: Maverick" and the Brad Pitt film "F1". "Nightcrawler" director Dan Gilroy is responsible for the screenplay. Gilroy was most recently honored with an Emmy Award for his work as a writer for the acclaimed "Star Wars" series "Andor".

If the talks with Butler and Jordan are successful, the project would have a top-class cast both in front of and behind the camera. Filming is scheduled to take place in 2026. There is already a start date: "Miami Vice" will be released in cinemas on August 6, 2027.

The cult series from the 80s

The original series first aired between 1984 and 1989. The crime series was far more than just another ordinary cop show and quickly developed into a cultural phenomenon. The two investigators Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs became fashion icons and Miami became a neon-soaked symbol of coolness. Pastel-colored suits, sports cars and the unmistakable synthesizer music shaped the image of the 80s like few other formats. But behind the glossy façade there was always a tough realism – a look at drug dealing, corruption and moral gray areas that made "Miami Vice" a pioneer of modern crime dramas.

Michael Mann's Miami Vice

Two decades later, Michael Mann brought his own creation to the big screen: The 2006 Miami Vice film deliberately avoided retro charm and glossy aesthetics. Instead, Mann presented a rougher, more realistic version of the story – cool, stylish and carried by a nocturnal atmosphere.

The film polarized: for some fans, the film deviated too much from the original and was too dark and too cerebral. Another point of criticism is that the film focused too much on style rather than a coherent story. But others saw it as a neo-noir masterpiece that was simply ahead of its time. Today in particular, Mann's "Miami Vice" is considered an absolute cult film and has built up a considerable fanbase.

The new cast

Now another reinterpretation is in development. Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler are two names that sound perfect for a modern version of "Miami Vice". Jordan has already proven his talent on several occasions – whether in big superhero films, horror flicks or serious dramas. And Austin Butler is also taking off more and more. Most recently, he took on the lead role in Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller "Caught Stealing". You can find our review here. Butler can also be seen in "Eddington" by "Midsommar" director Ari Aster. It will be interesting to see how the actor duo will perform in the new "Miami Vice" film as Rico Tubbs and Sonny Crockett.