Universal Pictures is assembling a new big-screen take on the classic cop drama Miami Vice, with rising star Whitney Peak joining previously announced leads Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler. The studio has tapped Peak for a key role in the project, which marks another attempt to reboot the iconic 1980s television series for modern audiences. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the film is expected to draw on the show’s signature blend of undercover police work, high-stakes crime, and sun-soaked South Florida atmosphere.
Peak, best known for her breakout performance in the HBO Max comedy-drama Gossip Girl revival and her role in the horror sequel The Visit, has been steadily building a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors. Her casting signals Universal’s intention to balance the film’s star power with fresh talent, a strategy that has worked well for the studio in other recent franchise revivals. The actress will join Jordan, who is also producing the project, and Butler, whose profile has skyrocketed following his performances in Elvis and Dune: Part Two. The trio is expected to headline a story that modernizes the original premise while maintaining the gritty, stylish tone that made the series a cultural touchstone.
The Miami Vice franchise has a storied history on screen. The original NBC series, created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive produced by Michael Mann, ran from 1984 to 1990 and became a defining pop culture artifact of the decade, renowned for its pastel suits, synth-driven soundtrack, and cinematic visuals. Mann later returned to direct a feature film adaptation in 2006, starring Colin Farrell as Detective Sonny Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Detective Ricardo Tubbs. That picture, which also featured Naomie Harris, Gong Li, and John Ortiz, followed the two undercover detectives as a case involving drug lords and murder in South Florida spiraled into a deeply personal investigation. Crockett found himself romantically entangled with the Chinese-Cuban wife of an arms and drug trafficker, while Tubbs faced an assault on those he loved. Despite mixed critical reception, the film earned a TMDb audience rating of 6.029 out of 10 and grossed enough internationally to justify continued interest in the property.
For this new version, Universal is taking a different approach, aiming to capture the essence of the series without being beholden to the 2006 film’s narrative. The studio has not confirmed whether the new movie will directly adapt specific episodes or carve out an original story within the Miami Vice universe. Industry insiders suggest the project will lean heavily into the period setting, hence the working title Miami Vice '85, which implies a return to the mid-1980s era when the show originally aired. That period precision offers a rich visual and cultural backdrop, from the era’s fashion and music to the escalating cocaine trade that defined South Florida’s criminal underworld at the time.
Jordan’s involvement as a producer as well as a star gives him significant creative input, and his track record with elevated genre fare - from Creed to Without Remorse - suggests he may push for a more grounded, character-driven take rather than a straightforward action spectacle. Butler, meanwhile, has shown versatility in both biographical dramas and big-budget science fiction, making him a fitting choice for one of the two lead detective roles, though the studio has not officially announced which characters either actor will portray. Peak’s unspecified role could place her opposite one of the leads, potentially as a love interest, a fellow officer, or an antagonist tied to the criminal enterprise at the story’s center.
The project is still in the pre-production phase, with a director yet to be officially attached. Universal has not announced a release date, casting beyond the main trio, or any production timeline. The studio’s confidence in the property, however, is evident in its willingness to invest in a marquee cast and a period-specific approach that differentiates this version from the 2006 film. That earlier movie, directed by Mann, remains the most recent theatrical adaptation, and its 132-minute runtime and grim tone were seen at the time as a deliberate deconstruction of the glamorous television original. The new film appears poised to strike a different balance, one that honors the nostalgia of the source material while updating its storytelling for contemporary audiences.
For fans of the franchise, the combination of Jordan, Butler, and Peak offers reason for cautious optimism. The casting choices suggest a film that values charisma and dramatic range alongside action chops, and the period setting could prove a visual treat under the right directorial eye. Whether the project will recapture the cultural impact of the original series or improve upon the 2006 film’s mixed reception remains to be seen. But with a solid foundation of talent and a studio clearly committed to the property, Miami Vice '85 is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing projects on Universal’s upcoming slate. As production moves forward, further announcements regarding the director, additional cast members, and plot specifics will likely offer a clearer picture of what this new iteration has in store.
Source: Deadline
