Universal Pictures has released the first official images of Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler in Miami Vice ’85, offering fans an early look at the two actors as they take on the lead roles in the upcoming reboot of the popular crime franchise. Production is now underway, marking another step toward bringing the iconic detectives back to the screen for a new generation of moviegoers.
The studio shared promotional photographs of both actors through separate posts on Instagram. Jordan appears as Ricardo Tubbs, while Butler takes on the role of Sonny Crockett. Their characters were originally introduced in the hit 1980s television series Miami Vice, which became famous for its stylish fashion, undercover police investigations and stories set against the backdrop of Miami's criminal underworld.
The new film is being directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for F1 and Top Gun: Maverick, with Dan Gilroy, the writer and director of Nightcrawler, also involved in the project. The combination of Kosinski's experience with large-scale action films and Gilroy's background in crime-driven storytelling has helped build anticipation for the reboot.
Jordan's casting places him in the role of Tubbs, a detective who has been portrayed by different actors across the franchise's history. Philip Michael Thomas originally played the character in the television series, which ran from 1984 to 1989. Jamie Foxx later took on the role in director Michael Mann's 2006 film adaptation.
Butler will play Crockett, Tubbs' police partner and one of the franchise's most recognizable characters. Don Johnson made the role famous in the original television series, while Colin Farrell portrayed Crockett in the 2006 movie. Butler now has the opportunity to put his own interpretation on the character, whose reputation has been closely tied to the franchise's distinctive style and undercover police work.
Although the newly released images provide an early glimpse of Jordan and Butler in their respective roles, the studio has yet to reveal many details about the film's storyline. However, the title Miami Vice ’85 points toward a setting connected to the era in which the original series first became popular. The production is expected to revisit the atmosphere of 1980s crime investigations while introducing the story to modern audiences.
Filming began in Wayne, New Jersey, earlier this month, with additional production scheduled to take place in New York City and Miami. The choice of locations suggests that the filmmakers will use several settings to bring the film's world to life, with Miami remaining closely associated with the franchise's identity.
The film also features a sizable supporting cast. Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, Danny Ramirez, Andrew Schulz, Walton Goggins, André Holland, Michael Irby and John Leguizamo are among the actors joining Jordan and Butler. Their characters and the extent of their roles have not all been fully detailed, leaving room for further announcements as production continues.
The original Miami Vice helped define television crime dramas during the 1980s, combining police investigations with a distinctive visual style, memorable music and stories about the dangers of working undercover. Its influence has continued long after the series ended, making any attempt to revive the franchise a challenge as well as an opportunity.
The 2006 film adaptation offered a darker interpretation of the material, but the new project gives the filmmakers another chance to explore the partnership between Crockett and Tubbs. With Jordan and Butler leading the cast, the reboot brings together two established actors who have built reputations through performances in major films.
Jordan is known for projects including Creed and Black Panther, while Butler received widespread attention for portraying Elvis Presley in Elvis and later appeared in Dune: Part Two. Their involvement gives the reboot two high-profile leads as Universal Pictures works to reintroduce the franchise to cinema audiences.
Miami Vice ’85 is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters in May 2028. With filming underway and the first official images now public, more information about the plot, supporting characters and overall direction of the film is likely to emerge as production progresses.
For now, the first look confirms that Jordan and Butler are stepping into two of the franchise's most celebrated roles. Whether the reboot can capture the appeal of the original while establishing its own identity remains to be seen, but the project is already bringing renewed attention to one of television's best-known crime duos.
