Michael Mann Has “Secretly Recut” ‘Miami Vice’ for a New “Director’s Final Cut” to Premiere in October

I’m not sure how this is going to turn out, but Michael Mann “secretly recut” his ‘Miami Vice’ movie, which has now led to the 4k restoration “MIAMI VICE: DIRECTOR’S FINAL CUT” being announced to world premiere at Beyond Fest on October 3, with Mann in person.

No word on the runtime, which isn’t listed on the festival’s website. No details, in fact, about why Mann decided to do this.

Mann has made it clear over the years that the theatrical version is his director’s cut. The longer “Unrated Director’s Cut” released on home video was described by Mann as a “revision,” with eight extra minutes added, for a total runtime of 140 minutes, rather than a replacement for the theatrical version.

That said, there was discussion among people close to the release about a 3-hour cut existing. Mann has never been asked about that version. at the moment, we don’t think that will be the cut screened at Beyond Fest, but we’re all open for surprise.

Mann has made it clear that he considers “Miami Vice” to be the movie that “got away” — in large part because of its hastily revised ending, and naming the film after the ’80s TV series, which set up misguided expectations:

I would’ve tried to command the same budget and not call it Miami Vice […] It doesn’t have its proper ending. Because we weren’t able to shoot those last three weeks in Ciudad del Este. We shot for three days. And so there’s a very different ending that belonged on that film.

Mann didn’t shoot the ending he wanted in large part because of Farrell’s co-star, Jamie Foxx, who was reportedly difficult to work with, allegedly demanding a higher salary, top billing in the film’s credits, refusing to fly commercially, and objecting to filming scenes involving boats or planes.

Things came to a crashing halt when production suddenly shut down in the Dominican Republic after gunshots were reportedly fired near the film’s set. Foxx immediately left the country and returned to the United States. This forced Mann to abandon the script’s intended ending.

Despite the on-set drama, poor initial reviews, and both Mann and Farrell expressing disappointment with the finished film, “Miami Vice” has since undergone a remarkable reappraisal, inspiring a kind of cultish fervor. A film that was widely ridiculed upon release is now regarded by some as a significant and influential work.