Austin Butler may join Michael B. Jordan in Joseph Kosinski’s IMAX reboot of ‘Miami Vice,’ reviving the 1980s classic for a new generation.
Austin Butler is reportedly in early talks to star alongside Michael B. Jordan in Universal Pictures’ upcoming Miami Vice reboot, helmed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski.
If confirmed, Butler will play James “Sonny” Crockett opposite Jordan’s Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs — the stylish South Florida detectives who became pop culture icons in the original 1980s television series.
The project marks a fresh reimagining of Miami Vice, a show that defined an era with its neon-lit depiction of Miami’s glamorous underworld. Originally created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann, the series ran from 1984 to 1989 and starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as the crime-fighting duo.
The franchise later hit the big screen in 2006 with a darker, more realistic take directed by Mann, featuring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. Despite a star-studded cast and a budget of over $135 million, the 2006 adaptation received mixed reviews and modest box office returns of about $164 million worldwide.
Now, nearly two decades later, Kosinski is steering the revival into the modern age. Known for his visually striking and high-adrenaline filmmaking, the director plans to explore “the glamour and corruption of mid-80s Miami” through a contemporary lens.
The film will be shot for IMAX and is slated for release on August 6, 2027, with production expected to begin next year.
Butler’s potential casting follows his acclaimed performance as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which earned him a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and an Oscar nomination.
The actor has since continued to diversify his roles, playing the ruthless Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two and starring in Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller Caught Stealing.
Kosinski will produce the Miami Vice reboot alongside Dylan Clark, reuniting the duo behind Top Gun: Maverick. The screenplay comes from Eric Warren Singer and Dan Gilroy, based on Yerkovich’s original characters.
Universal Pictures has yet to comment on the casting talks, but anticipation is already building for the film’s sleek blend of nostalgia and modern action.
