Miami Vice ’85: Crockett & Tubbs ditch the pastels for Jordan & Butler
The neon glow of the 1980s is about to get a serious upgrade. Universal is putting the pedal to the metal on a mega-budget reboot of Miami Vice, set to star Michael B. Jordan as Sonny Crockett and Austin Butler as Tubbs. While the film is still over a year and a half away, the production is already underway, promising a fresh, high-energy take on the iconic crime drama.
This new cinematic era draws its inspiration from the classic storyline, pulling from the pilot episode Brother’s Keeper, which featured the original cast. The narrative thread links the story of Tubbs, a New York cop, with the pursuit of a drug lord named Calderone, leading to a partnership between Crockett and Tubbs that evolves into a lifelong bond over five seasons.
The reboot isn’t just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a visual and narrative evolution. Moving away from the softer palettes of the original, the new Crockett sports a sharp grey suit, offering a cooler, more contemporary edge. Similarly, Tubbs steps into a look defined by black leather and a rugged aesthetic, complete with a beard and moustache, signaling a harder edge for the Miami undercover cop.
The creative team is also paying homage to the legacy of the franchise by referencing the classic two-parter, Calderone’s Return. This echoes the foundational structure of the original series while allowing the new story to breathe in a modern context, avoiding some of the less-explored elements of earlier iterations, such as the character of Lt. Castillo.
The casting choices are as bold as the visual redesign. Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler bring intense gravitas to the roles of the two vice cops. The supporting cast is stacked with talent, featuring actors like John Leguizamo, who brought depth to the Calderone saga, alongside others who will populate this vibrant new world. With the premiere slated for May 19, 2028, audiences are in for a seriously stylish and thrilling dive into the world of 1985.
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