New "Miami Vice" Film From "Top Gun: Maverick" Director in Development
"Nightcrawler" director Dan Gilroy is responsible for the screenplay
A new movie from the world of "Miami Vice" is currently in development. According to industry portal The Hollywood Reporter, "Top Gun: Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski will be responsible for the project.
The cult show "Miami Vice" from the 80s revolves around two undercover cops, played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. In a total of five seasons, the two fight against organized crime in Miami. The crime series significantly shaped television and pop culture in the 80s.
Back in 2006, the series was already adapted into a movie by the brilliant director Michael Mann. The cop duo was played by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. However, at the time, the film flopped at the box office. But even the gloomy reinterpretation has achieved cult status among fans today and enjoys a loyal fan base.
The New "Miami Vice" Film
So now Joseph Kosinski is devoting himself to another film adaptation. With "Top Gun: Maverick", the director has already proven that he can successfully create a modern take on an 80s cult phenomenon. Kosinski is also known for his directing skills on the Tom Cruise film "Oblivion" as well as "Tron: Legacy". The screenplay will be written by "Nightcrawler" director Dan Gilroy, who last contributed as a writer to the acclaimed "Star Wars" series "Andor".
However, it is not known yet who will be starring in the new "Miami Vice" movie. It is also difficult to estimate a release date due to the production's early stage of development, but we will keep you up to date as things progress.
Miami Vice (2006)
Michael Mann's 2006 film "Miami Vice" is a gloomy, stylistically uncompromising adaptation of the cult 80s series of the same name, which Mann himself was involved in developing. In contrast to the colorful original, with its neon lights and pop music, the director directs his new version as a deeply atmospheric, serious thriller.
Plot
The story centers on undercover detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx), who are investigating an international drug cartel. After an informant is busted and murdered, the two have to infiltrate deep into the world of organized crime, which brings them more and more into moral and personal conflicts. Crockett begins a dangerous affair with the mysterious Isabella (Gong Li), who is connected to a powerful drug boss.
Style and Atmosphere
What makes "Miami Vice" so special is not so much the plot, but the style. Michael Mann relies on a visually compact narrative style: muted colors, digital handheld camera footage and night shots that often convey more emotion than dialogue. The music consists of dark electro beats, ambient sounds and rock (by Moby and Audioslave, among others), which underlines the melancholic tone.
The style and atmosphere are probably the key to the movie. "Miami Vice" is a so-called "mood piece". The movie places more emphasis on the atmosphere than on a classic narrative structure with a stringent plot. The style is supposed to carry the movie. Whether it succeeds, however, is up to the viewer to decide. One point of criticism of such movies is frequently "style over substance": the film's essence is neglected while too much focus is placed on the style. However, it can also be argued that it is precisely this particular stylistic approach that is the substance of such movies.
Cult Status and Reception
Upon its release, "Miami Vice" was a moderate commercial success and divided critics and audiences alike. Some accused the movie of being too cold and emotionally distant, while others celebrated it as a visionary work that stood out from the usual action cinema. Over the years, the film acquired a certain cult status. It is now considered by some to be one of the style-defining movies of the 2000s.
Opinions on "Miami Vice" can therefore vary. It's best to check it out for yourself: you can rent the movie on Apple. You can also find another Michael Mann movie there: "Collateral", also with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. You can currently also find his most famous film in the Apple TV+ subscription: "Heat" stars acting legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.