André Holland has joined the cast of Joseph Kosinski’s Miami Vice ’85 at Universal Pictures, becoming the latest addition to an increasingly crowded ensemble. Specific details about his character are being kept under wraps, adding another layer of intrigue to a project that has already assembled a high-profile cast.
Holland joins a lineup that already includes Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler, John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, Alden Ehrenreich, Edi Gathegi, Danny Ramirez, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone and Andrew Schulz. With Holland now on board, Miami Vice ’85 has developed one of the more stacked ensembles currently in production, bringing together established performers and a younger generation of major stars for a new take on the influential 1980s property.
Holland is best known for playing Dr. Algernon Edwards on Steven Soderbergh’s The Knick, as well as for his memorable performances in Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight and Ava DuVernay’s Selma. He later reteamed with Soderbergh for High Flying Bird and starred in Rebecca Hall’s Passing. His addition to Miami Vice ’85 further expands a cast that is already central to the film’s appeal.
Michael B. Jordan plays Ricardo Tubbs, while Austin Butler takes on the role of James “Sonny” Crockett. The film is set in mid-1980s Miami and explores the glamour and corruption of the city through the story of two detectives working undercover. The screenplay was written by Dan Gilroy and is said to be inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the original series.
The project is based on the landmark 1984 NBC series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann. The original Miami Vice ran for five seasons through 1989 and became hugely influential on television as well as the broader cultural landscape of the era. Its impact extended well beyond its crime-drama format, shaping fashion, music and visual style and helping define the look and atmosphere associated with 1980s popular culture.
Mann later directed a feature-film adaptation in 2006, with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx playing Crockett and Tubbs. Although that film struggled at the box office, grossing $165 million against a reported $135 million budget, it has since developed a cult following. John Leguizamo, who is part of the new film’s cast, also has a personal connection to the franchise. He has previously spoken about his history with Miami Vice, recalling that his first real acting job was a guest appearance as the son of a drug lord on the original 1980s series.
Joseph Kosinski is directing Miami Vice ’85, continuing a prolific run that includes Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, and the racing drama F1, which earned more than $620 million and received a Best Picture nomination. Kosinski’s other directing credits include Oblivion, Tron: Legacy and Only the Brave, giving the filmmaker a varied track record across science fiction, action, drama and large-scale studio filmmaking.
Kosinski is also producing the film through his company Monolith, alongside Dylan Clark, his past collaborator on Oblivion and the recent Planet of the Apes films. Their involvement adds another layer to a project that is being mounted on a substantial scale, with Universal Pictures backing a new cinematic interpretation of one of television’s most recognizable properties.
The film is being shot for IMAX, with production scheduled to begin in November across locations in New York and Miami. The project has undergone several changes since it was first announced, including a title update to Miami Vice ’85 and a shift in its release date. It was originally scheduled for August 2027 before moving to its current release slot of May 19, 2028.
With Holland now added to an already packed cast and cameras set to begin rolling next month, Miami Vice ’85 continues to take shape as one of Universal’s major ensemble projects heading toward 2028. The film brings together a new generation of stars while returning to the world created by Yerkovich and Mann, giving Kosinski an opportunity to revisit the glamour, crime and visual identity associated with Miami Vice for a new audience.
Holland’s addition also strengthens an ensemble that already spans a wide range of performers and screen backgrounds. While the details of his role remain undisclosed, his presence adds another recognizable name to a production built around Jordan and Butler’s Crockett and Tubbs. With production approaching and the film being designed for IMAX, Miami Vice ’85 is moving closer to bringing its mid-1980s Miami setting and its new interpretation of the iconic detective duo to the big screen.
