Miami Vice: Release date and first story details of the new film

A few months ago, it was announced that a new "Miami Vice" movie is in development. Now, there's a release date and the first details about the story. The new movie is, of course, once again based on the cult TV series of the 80s. It centers on two undercover cops in Miami. A film adaptation directed by master director Michael Mann, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, was released back in 2006. The atmospheric crime thriller now also enjoys cult status.

According to industry magazine Deadline, the story of the new film will mainly be based on the pilot episode and the first season of the original series. The focus will be on corruption and glamour in 1980s Miami.

The choice of director is sure to appeal to many action fans: "Miami Vice" will be directed by "Top Gun: Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski. Kosinski recently caused a sensation at the box office with the Brad Pitt film "F1". The screenplay is written by "Nightcrawler" director Dan Gilroy, who also wrote some episodes of the acclaimed Star Wars series "Andor".

We are eagerly awaiting to see who will step into the roles of Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs this time around. The casting process is currently in full swing. Filming is scheduled for 2026, with the theatrical release planned for August 6, 2027.

"Miami Vice": from series to film

When you think of 80s pop culture, you can't help but think of "Miami Vice". Suits, fast cars, synth sounds and Miami's glittering nightlife – all of this merged in the groundbreaking crime series to create an iconic overall image that radiated far beyond the screen. And even though the film adaptation of the same name by Michael Mann was initially met with a mixed reception, it is now a cult movie.

The "Miami Vice" phenomenon

When "Miami Vice" started in 1984, it was immediately clear that this series was different. Although it featured classic cop stories with undercover investigators, drug deals and street crime, its impact was also achieved through style and atmosphere.

"Miami Vice" was style-defining in many aspects. The main characters James "Sonny" Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) became fashion icons. "Miami Vice" has also a special soundtrack: songs by Phil Collins or Tina Turner and the score by Jan Hammer were used deliberately, not just as background music but as an emotional element. The theme song by Jan Hammer became a hit – and the series itself became a cultural phenomenon that influenced fashion, music and television in equal measure.

Michael Manns "Miami Vice" movie

More than 20 years after the start of the series, Michael Mann dared to reinterpret it – but with a different tone. Mann himself was involved in the series as a producer at the time. However, his movie deliberately avoided nostalgia and retro charm. Instead, Mann staged a gritty, realistic thriller in the style of his films "Heat" and "Collateral". However, the movie was initially received rather mixed. Some fans accused it of being too coldly staged and an unnecessarily complex plot. Many had expected a nostalgic trip to the 80s – and got a raw, atmospherically dense undercover thriller.

An underrated movie

Despite the mixed reactions on release, it is worth looking at "Miami Vice" with fresh eyes today. The film has a number of strengths that have earned it cult status over the years. The look of the film is particularly impressive. The scenes on the open sea, at sunset or on tropical nights are visually unique. The atmosphere is also crucial. "Miami Vice" relies less on classic narrative strategies and more on an atmospheric experience.

Mann also worked with experts and used real locations. The result is an almost documentary-like impression – without losing the artistic ambition. Violence comes as a surprise, quickly and uncompromisingly – just like in reality. The soundtrack offers a special selection of music: Pieces by Moby, Audioslave or Nonpoint (with a cover of "In the Air Tonight") perfectly underline the dense, oppressive mood of the movie.

"Miami Vice" today – a cult series and movie

While the series has long been regarded as a TV classic, the film can now also be seen in a new light. Film fans and critics are increasingly discovering what Michael Mann has created with his "Miami Vice" movie: not a nostalgic rehash, but an independent, radically modern reinterpretation of the original.

Whether as a stylish 80s series or a gritty thriller – "Miami Vice" knows how to win over viewers. We assume that Joseph Kosinski will also provide his own interpretation of the story – possibly in the style of "Top Gun" or "F1".