Story perspectives

Joseph Kosinski to Direct “Miami Vice ’85” Release

8/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Joseph Kosinski will direct Universal’s “Miami Vice ’85” starring Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler and Alden Ehrenreich.
Dan Gilroy wrote the script, adapting the 1984 pilot created by Anthony Yerkovich and Michael Mann.
Filming begins later in 2026, will be shot for IMAX, and targets a May 19, 2028 release.
Alden Ehrenreich’s undisclosed role follows his June 2026 Tony win for “Becky Shaw,” and CAA represents him.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, the TV series *The X-Files* produced a $189 million-grossing film directed by Rob Bowman under 20th Century Fox studio. Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny each earned $5 million, boosting the film’s $189 million total box-office revenues in its opening weekend globally. Similarly, Universal now commissions director Joseph Kosinski to helm a big-budget *Miami Vice* reboot, echoing the earlier TV-to-film transition that sought commercial success. The precedent suggests the 2028 release may generate multi-hundred-million revenues, prompting studios to prioritize nostalgic franchises over original concepts.

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Story summary

Joseph Kosinski will direct Universal’s “Miami Vice ’85” starring Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler and Alden Ehrenreich.
Dan Gilroy wrote the script, adapting the 1984 pilot created by Anthony Yerkovich and Michael Mann.
Filming begins later in 2026, will be shot for IMAX, and targets a May 19, 2028 release.
Alden Ehrenreich’s undisclosed role follows his June 2026 Tony win for “Becky Shaw,” and CAA represents him.

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