Universal and Joseph Kosinski’s upcoming Miami Vice ’85 looks to have found its potential bad guy as sources tell Deadline that John Leguizamo is on board to join the movie. Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan are set to star, with Kosinski directing. Whitney Peak, Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone and Danny Ramirez co-star.
Miami Vice ’85, with a screenplay by Dan Gilroy, explores the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami in an all-new version of Miami Vice, inspired by the pilot episode of the landmark 1984-90 NBC series. The movie will be filmed for Imax and is set for release on May 19, 2028. Production will begin this year.
While unconfirmed, sources say Leguizamo will play a cartel boss in the pic. The role marks a full circle moment for Leguizamo who appeared in multiple episodes of Miami Vice in the 80s at the start of his career.
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The film is produced by Dylan Clark/Dylan Clark Productions and Kosinski. Gilroy’s script is based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich from the series he executive produced with Michael Mann; Eric Warren Singer wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay. EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Christina Hoffrogge oversee the project for the studio.
Universal and Leguizamo are coming off a strong summer where he not only had his scene-stealing role in Universal’s biggest box office hit ever, The Odyssey, but also reunited with Matt Damon in a key role for the untitled event pic from the Daniels that is currently filming.
Leguizamo also also recently shot Universal’s upcoming Exorcist movie starring Scarlett Johansson and can be seen next in Bullet Catch. He is repped by UTA, Mosaic and Jackoway Austen Terman.