John Leguizamo Joins Universal's Miami Vice '85
John Leguizamo has joined the cast of Miami Vice '85, Universal's new take on 1980s Miami. The casting was first reported by sources cited by Deadline.
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler are set to star. Joseph Kosinski, whose recent work includes large-scale action films, is directing.
Sources cited by Deadline say Leguizamo will play a cartel boss. That detail is unconfirmed. The wider ensemble already includes Whitney Peak, Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone and Danny Ramirez.
The film looks back to the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami. It is a new version inspired by the pilot episode of Miami Vice, the Universal Television series. It will be filmed for IMAX, the giant-screen format found in the largest cinemas.
Universal has set Miami Vice '85 for release on 19 May 2028. Production is set to begin in 2026, according to Deadline. The date plants the film squarely in the early summer corridor, when studios release their biggest titles.
Dylan Clark of Dylan Clark Productions is producing alongside Kosinski. The screenplay is based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich, who executive produced the original series with Michael Mann. Eric Warren Singer wrote an earlier draft. Sara Scott, executive vice president of production development, and Christina Hoffrogge, creative executive of production development, are overseeing the project for Universal.
Leguizamo is already a familiar face at Universal. He appeared in the studio's The Odyssey and recently shot its upcoming Exorcist film starring Scarlett Johansson. He will next be seen in Bullet Catch.
For fans, this means the picture is filling out fast. Cameras have yet to roll, but the leads, the villain's corner and the release date are now in place.
