The Miami Vice reboot is taking shape, as it appears a former Academy Award nominee is being eyed to co-lead the project alongside Michael B. Jordan. Miami Vice is a reboot of the popular series from the 1980s that will be directed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Yesterday, news broke that the Sinners star was being eyed to play Ricardo Tubbs in Miami Vice, a role previously played by Philip Michael Thomas and Jamie Foxx.
Deadline reports that Austin Butler is being eyed to star as James “Sonny” Crockett. Butler was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as Elvis Presley in 2022’s Elvis, and also played the role of Feyd-Ruatha in 2024’s Dune: Part Two. James “Sonny” Crockett was previously played by Don Johnson in the original series and Colin Farrell in the 2006 film adaptation, Miami Vice. No official deal has been made, but talks are moving along well.
Austin Butler & Michael B. Jordan Is a Blockbuster Pairing
Previous reports suggested that Glen Powell was being eyed to co-star in Miami Vice alongside Michael B. Jordan. No word on why Austin Butler is now the top choice, or if Powell was ever in consideration, but the Elvis star is a strong candidate nevertheless. At the moment, Butler is only signed on to star opposite Jeremy Allen White in Enemies, a crime film from director Henry Dunham and distributed by A24. Deadline reports that Miami Vice will begin shooting in 2026.
Getting his start on series like Ned’s Declassified: School Survival Guide, Switched at Birth, and The Carrie Diaries, Butler has become one of the most in-demand stars. After appearing as Tex Watson in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Butler shot into superstardom when he landed the highly coveted role of Elvis Presley for the 2022 biopic. After Elvis grossed $288.7 million worldwide and garnered multiple Academy Award nominations, Butler was officially a star. Since then, starring in Dune: Part Two, The Bikeriders, Eddington, and Caught Stealing have shown Butler having an eye for strong projects led by talented directors.
Universal Pictures is tasked with making Miami Vice relevant to a new generation that might not have seen or even heard of the original series. Beloved stars like Butler and Michael B. Jordan have a good chance of generating audience interest, underscoring the need for star power to help sell an IP. The studio has set Miami Vice for release on August 6, 2027, a highly coveted weekend typically reserved for one of the final big summer releases. Other major releases include Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and The Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw, which all opened on that first weekend of August and became blockbuster hits. Now, Universal Pictures hopes this exciting cast and director combination can do the same for Miami Vice.