Austin Butler is in early talks to make the Miami Vice remake duo with Michael B. Jordan

Universal's new Miami Vice film is in talks to bring in Austin Butler alongside Michael B. Jordan, giving 1980s Miami a modern reboot. As reported by Deadline, the actor is being considered to star as James Sonny Crockett, the stylish undercover detective who was previously played by Don Johnson.

Butler's speculated casting comes after Michael B. Jordan was also reported to be in talks to play Ricardo Tubbs, Crockett’s partner. The castings are not yet confirmed, but the film is looking ahead at a 2027 release. This means 2026 will likely see the movie under production, giving a clearer vision of what the reboot will bring.

Butler is known for his roles in television, starting with Disney and Nickelodeon, and later transitioning into Hollywood with interesting, captivating performances. His movie resume includes Elvis, Dune 2, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

More details about the Miami Vice remake

The film is being helmed by Joseph Kosinski, who is fresh off the success of Brad Pitt's F1. He will be producing the film alongside Dylan Clark, with Eric Warren Singer and Dan Gilroy writing the script. The film promises to explore the glamour, corruption, and high-stakes tension of mid-1980s Miami. It draws inspiration from the pilot episode and first season of NBC’s groundbreaking series.

When Miami Vice, the original show, hit NBC on September 16, 1984, television changed forever. Created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive produced by Michael Mann, the series followed undercover detectives James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas). They worked for the Metro-Dade Police Department, prowling the neon-lit streets of Miami, Florida. Over five seasons, until June 28, 1989, the show became a defining symbol of 1980s pop culture, airing on Friday nights and fusing crime drama with the pulse of MTV.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the official synopsis of the show reads:

This series is largely remembered for the stylish clothes Detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs wore, the soundtrack, and its distinct visuals. But beneath the veneer is a surprisingly dark cop show. The cocaine boom of the 1980s framed many stories about drugs and murder, with Crockett and Tubbs often resorting to violence in the course of their work.

Even after its finale, the show’s influence lingered. USA Network began airing reruns in 1988, the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City borrowed its entire aesthetic, and Michael Mann later directed a 2006 film adaptation. In 2025, a new movie version from director Joseph Kosinski and writer Dan Gilroy was announced, proving that the pastel-soaked legacy of Miami Vice still burns bright.