Universal Pictures has slated its film reboot of Miami Vice, from Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie director Joseph Kosinski, for a summer 2027 release date. Kosinski is having an incredible year, having turned the original film F1: The Movie into a smash that is not only the biggest hit of star Brad Pitt’s career but also a $623 million worldwide blockbuster. Combine that with the $1 billion hit Top Gun: Maverick following the COVID-19 pandemic — and beloved cult favorite Tron: Legacy before that — and Kosinski has emerged as one of the most reliable filmmakers in Hollywood. He will now turn his eye to rebooting Miami Vice, the hit ’80s cop series that is now widely seen as a relic of its era.
Deadline reports that Universal has scheduled Miami Vice for an Aug. 6, 2027, release date. In addition to directing, Kosinski is co-writing the script with Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) and Eric Warren Singer (Only the Brave). Casting is underway, and production is expected to begin in 2026. Deadline also reports that Miami Vice will be a period piece, set in the 1980s, and that “Kosinski’s big-screen version will explore the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami.” Universal has also slated an untitled DreamWorks Animation event film for September 24, 2027 — potentially the sequel to The Wild Robot, although nothing is confirmed.
‘Miami Vice’ Will Face Off Against an Unexpected Challenger
Universal dating Miami Vice for the first week of August in 2027 is a strong sign, as many films that have opened in early August gone on to dominate the last month of summer, such as Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 and Suicide Squad in 2016. Universal hit big that weekend with The Fast & The Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, which opened to $60 million and made $700 million worldwide by the end of its run. However, another movie has also seen the potential in that weekend, and will face off against Miami Vice as counterprogramming, as Disney has set Bluey: The Movie to open at the same time.
Miami Vice was one of the most popular series of the 1980s, running for four seasons on NBC, and became known for its hit soundtrack, vibrant neon colors, and decade-defining fashion. Michael Mann, the series executive producer and pilot director, went on to reboot the franchise in 2006 with a feature film starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. A grittier and darker take on the material, the movie was a box office disappointment but has gained a cult following over the years.
Universal is clearly betting on Miami Vice to be a big hit for the studio, capitalizing on Kosinski’s track record with crowd-pleasing adult-skewing blockbusters. While the studio’s past attempts to adapt their television library, including The A-Team and The Fall Guy, have disappointed at the box office, Universal isn’t giving up. In addition to Miami Vice, they’re rebooting Knight Rider with the creative team behind Cobra Kai. Can Kosinski make Miami Vice relevant for modern audiences, or will this attempt fail as well? It remains to be seen, but the popularity of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City indicates there’s definitely a demand, since the video game drew heavily from the television series.
