Director Joseph Kosinski's highly anticipated "Miami Vice" movie is officially in the works. Universal Pictures revealed on Wednesday that this major event film will grace theaters on August 6, 2027. Casting is currently in full swing, with production slated to commence next year.
Fresh off directing back-to-back blockbusters "F1: The Movie" and "Top Gun: Maverick," Kosinski is set to delve into the glitzy yet corrupt world of mid-80s Miami in a fresh take on "Miami Vice." This new iteration draws inspiration from the pilot episode and the first season of the groundbreaking TV series that left an indelible mark on culture, influencing everything from fashion trends to filmmaking techniques.
In a nod to his previous cinematic endeavors, Kosinski will film the movie in IMAX, aiming to amplify the iconic sights and sounds that made the original series so memorable. "Miami Vice" first emerged as a TV series crafted by Anthony Yerkovich, featuring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two undercover Miami police officers renowned for their penchant for pastel suits. "The ambition of the show was to break the form of everything that had come before," series executive producer Michael Mann told The Hollywood Reporter last year, reflecting on the series that aired on NBC from 1984 to 1990. Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell headlined a 2006 feature film adaptation, also directed by Mann, which raked in $163.7 million globally.
The upcoming film is produced by Dylan Clark (known for "The Batman") and Kosinski himself, with the screenplay penned by Dan Gilroy and Eric Singer, based on characters originally created by Yerkovich. Kosinski has been nurturing this project since last year, collaborating closely with longtime associate Singer to bring it to fruition.
Kosinski is also set to helm a UFO conspiracy thriller that Apple secured in a heated bidding war in March. Additionally, he is contemplating a sequel to "Top Gun: Maverick." The immense success of "Top Gun: Maverick" catapulted Kosinski into the ranks of Hollywood's most sought-after filmmakers, following his work on features like "Oblivion" and "Tron: Legacy." (He is represented by CAA, Untitled, and Sloane Offer.)
Released in the summer of 2022, the "Top Gun" sequel soared past expectations, grossing a staggering $1.5 billion worldwide for Paramount Pictures and David Ellison’s Skydance. In the aftermath, Ellison embarked on a protracted battle to acquire Paramount, ultimately sealing the deal earlier last month. During a press briefing on August 13, Ellison underscored the studio's commitment to "Top Gun 3," designating it as a top priority. He expressed his eagerness to continue collaborating with A-list star Tom Cruise—with whom he has crafted ten films during his tenure at Skydance—as long as Cruise wishes to keep telling stories together.
At the event, Ellison reiterated that "Top Gun 3," the sequel to the $1.5 billion-grossing "Top Gun: Maverick," remains a paramount focus for the studio. He reaffirmed his dedication to partnering with Cruise, with whom he has a prolific filmmaking history.
While Kosinski is expected to return to the director's chair for the "Top Gun" threequel, the project is now years away from hitting theaters, especially in light of the exciting "Miami Vice" news. This summer, Apple Original Films’ "F1" emerged as one of the box office's biggest surprises and performers. To date, the Formula One-themed movie has grossed over $623 million globally, even surpassing DC Studios and Warner Bros’ "Superman" ($615 million). Warner Bros also distributed and assisted in marketing "F1" on behalf of Apple.
