Miami Vice '85: John Leguizamo to play the villain
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler play the lead roles
New addition to "Miami Vice '85": John Leguizamo is reportedly on board. The actor is set to play the villain, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which claims to have learned this from unnamed sources. No further details about the role have been revealed yet.
What has been confirmed for some time now: Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler will play the lead roles. As the title "Miami Vice '85" suggests, the story is set in 1980s Miami. And thus in the era of the original crime TV series, which first aired in 1984. In terms of content, the reboot is based on the original "Miami Vice" pilot episode. The first season is also set to serve as inspiration. In the upcoming film, Jordan takes on the role of Ricardo Tubbs. Butler plays Sonny Crockett. As in the original series, the police officers work undercover. Back then, the two were portrayed by Philip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson.
Joseph Kosinski is directing
There was already a "Miami Vice" film 20 years ago. In Michael Mann's adaptation, Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell played the lead roles. This time, Joseph Kosinski is directing. The director has recently had two massive box office hits. In 2025, his racing drama "F1" grossed $634 million at the global box office. In 2022, he even grossed $1.5 billion with "Top Gun: Maverick." Consequently, expectations for Kosinski's "Miami Vice" adaptation are likely to be enormous – especially since the original 1980s TV series is considered a classic that influenced subsequent crime series and shaped pop culture with its stylish look.
With John Leguizamo, "Miami Vice '85" is now enriched by an actor who has appeared in numerous roles throughout his career, including in the action blockbuster "John Wick." He has also distinguished himself as a voice actor on several occasions, most recently in the animated hit "Zootopia 2." At the moment, however, he's generating a lot of buzz. The reason: his role in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." In the film adaptation of Homer's 3,000-year-old epic, he has left a lasting impression on critics as the blind Eumaeus. He stands out in an ensemble that is brimming with top-tier actors, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong'o, and Samantha Morton, to name just a few. Leguizamo's performance has clearly left a lasting impression, so much so that the star is considered a strong contender for an Oscar.
Star-studded ensemble
The cast of "Miami Vice '85" is impressive in other ways as well. With Michael B. Jordan, the film features a star who has reached the pinnacle of his career so far this year. At this year's Academy Awards, the actor was honored with the Oscar for Best Actor. He received the award for his dual role as the twins Elijah "Smoke" Moore and Elias "Stack" Moore in the acclaimed vampire film "Sinners," which was also a box office hit. The film grossed $371 million worldwide.
Austin Butler, meanwhile, made a name for himself four years ago as Elvis Presley in the biopic "Elvis." He also appeared in the science-fiction blockbuster "Dune: Part Two" alongside other high-profile stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Josh Brolin. In addition to Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler, and John Leguizamo, several other cast members for "Miami Vice '85" have reportedly been confirmed: Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, and Danny Ramirez. The release date for "Miami Vice '85" has also been announced. However, we'll have to wait a while: The reboot of the popular '80s series hits theaters on May 19, 2028.