John Leguizamo Cast as Villain in Joseph Kosinski’s Miami Vice ’85
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John Leguizamo has been cast as the main villain in Universal Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller Miami Vice ’85, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on September 17, 2026. The actor joins a cast that includes Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo Tubbs and Austin Butler as James Crockett.
The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski, is inspired by the pilot episode of the influential 1980s television series. Production is scheduled to begin in November 2026, with filming taking place in New York and Miami. The movie will be shot for IMAX and is set for theatrical release on May 19, 2028.
Cast and Production Details
Leguizamo’s role marks another major project for the actor, who recently appeared in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. That film became Universal’s highest-grossing release ever with a $1.68 billion worldwide haul. Sources indicate Leguizamo will play the film’s primary antagonist, though specific character details have not been officially disclosed.
The ensemble cast also features Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone and Danny Ramirez. Dan Gilroy wrote the screenplay, based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich. Eric Warren Singer penned an earlier draft. Dylan Clark produces through his Dylan Clark Productions, alongside Kosinski.
Kosinski previously directed Top Gun: Maverick and F1. The new feature will explore the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami, drawing from the original series that starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. Jordan takes on the role of Tubbs, while Butler portrays Crockett.
Leguizamo has several other projects lined up at Universal. He appears in the studio’s untitled feature from filmmaking duo Daniels, currently in production in Los Angeles. He is also set to appear in The Exorcist: Martyrs, a horror reboot directed by Mike Flanagan, scheduled for release on March 12, 2027.
Miami Vice ’85 remains on track for its November production start and May 2028 release. No further casting announcements have been confirmed at this time.
