A few weeks ago, a report indicated that talks were underway to cast Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan to play James “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs in Joseph Kosinski’s “Miami Vice” reboot. No, you’re not reading this wrong — the exact same actors who were being pushed in social media fan casting are expected to get the parts.
Jordan has now been confirmed by Deadline. The offer only came through after the studio rearranged schedules to allow Jordan to complete post-production on his next directing project, “The Thomas Crown Affair,” while also making time to shoot ‘Miami Vice.’ Now, we await Powell’s confirmation.
We already know that “F1” director Kosinski is set to direct “Miami Vice,” and that Universal has scheduled the film for August 6, 2027 release. Dan Gilroy (“Nightcrawler,” “Andor”) wrote the latest draft based on an earlier version by Eric Warren Singer (“Top Gun: Maverick”). Production will begin early next year.
According to Variety, the film “explores the glamour and corruption of mid-80s Miami” and draws inspiration from the pilot and first season of the original TV series — the show that basically defined an era, from neon fashion to cinematic cool.
“Miami Vice” originally premiered on NBC in 1984, created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann (“Heat”). The series, which ran for five seasons, starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as Sonny and Rico, becoming a cultural touchstone of the 1980s.
Mann attempted a cinematic interpretation of “Miami Vice” in 2006, starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. The film grossed $165M worldwide against a $135M budget. The film was at the time seen as a flop.
Yet despite the on-set drama, the initially bad reviews, and Mann, Farrell publicly disowning it, the 2006 “Miami Vice” reappraisal is very real. Ninteen years after its release, it’s found a cult following. In our critics poll tackling the best films of the 2000s, the film finished in 38th place. I still don’t think it’s a good film.
As mentioned, Kosinski is coming off the $600M+ success of “F1,” starring Brad Pitt. He also has an untitled UFO whistleblower thriller in the works at Apple. His other notable credits include “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Oblivion,” “Tron: Legacy,” and “Only the Brave.”
Ritchie and Statham have collaborated on six movies so far in their careers, so this will be lucky number seven. The others include “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch,” and “Wrath of Man.”