John Leguizamo is joining the cast of Miami Vice ’85, the big-screen adaptation of the 1980s TV show, as the main villain. The crime thriller stars Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, with Joseph Kosinski directing for an Imax release.
Universal Pictures is releasing the film on May 19, 2028. The production is targeting a November start, with shooting planned for New York and Miami.
The Cast So Far
Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone and Danny Ramirez form part of the cast already assembled, with Leguizamo stepping into the role of the piece’s principal adversary.
Ricardo Tubbs is played by Jordan, while Butler takes on the role of James Crockett, the two detectives from the original series. Anthony Yerkovich created the characters, who were originally portrayed by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as undercover Miami police officers known for their love of fast boats and pastel suits.
What Leguizamo Has Done Before
Leguizamo recently earned praise for his performance in Universal’s summer blockbuster The Odyssey. He played Eumaeus, the blind loyal friend, opposite Matt Damon’s Odysseus.
The film has surpassed every other title from that studio to become the biggest moneymaker of all time, with a total take of $1.68 billion dollars.
The filmmaking duo Daniels are working on an untitled feature project for Universal’s The Exorcist: Martyrs, the horror reboot by Mike Flanagan, due out March 12, 2027. And he has scored a role in the studio’, and he is attached to star in it. The production is currently filming in L.A., where he will reunite with Damon.
The book Kiki and the Can includes original art from Latino graffiti artist John “Crash” Matos, whose work gives the children’s book its distinctive look.
Why Leguizamo Fits
Leguizamo has worked his way into the Universal stable without much fuss. The role he takes on as the main villain in Miami Vice ’85 brings menace to a cast that already reads as star-studded.
A new take on the property is set to look at the allure and wrongness of mid-’80s Miami. It draws its inspiration from the pilot of the television series that shaped culture and established the look of everything from fashion to filmmaking.
The Creative Team
Kosinski directed Top Gun: Maverick and F1, and he is now producing alongside Dylan Clark through his Dylan Clark Productions, which previously worked on The Batman.
Where This Fits in Universal’s Schedule
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Production eyeing start | November |
| Shots in New York and Miami | — |
| Release date | May 19, 2028 |
Universal is set to release the movie on May 19, 2028, with production starting in November and filming scheduled for both New York and Miami prior to that date.
What Comes Next for Leguizamo
UTA, Mosaic and Jackoway Austen represent Leguizamo, and his calendar is full of work, with several Universal projects underway at the moment.
- The Odyssey — already released
- The Exorcist: Martyrs — March 12, 2027
- Miami Vice ’85 — May 19, 2028
The Bottom Line
Leguizamo’s casting as the main villain in Miami Vice ’85 gives the film a central threat. He brings heat to a cast that already has Jordan and Butler front and center.
A talented group is working on the project, and putting it into theaters in the largest format on a studio’s biggest day will get people talking about it.
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