‘We’re gonna need pastels’: First look at Miami Vice reboot
Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler step into the suave shoes of Tubbs and Crockett. Photos: Universal Pictures
The first official photos of stars Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler as Tubbs and Crockett in the movie reboot of classic ’80s crime show Miami Vice has many fans asking: Where are the pastel suits?
For anyone too young (or not cool enough) to remember, the original TV show ran from 1984 until 1989 and featured Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as a pair of vice squad detectives taking on drug gangs and other criminal types in Florida.
With its steamy settings, sports cars, stereophonic sound and slickly dressed stars, the Michael Mann-produced series was – to quote one TV writer – “sexy as hell”, winning a legion of fans and multiple Emmy nominations from the first season.
A 2006 movie version directed by Mann and starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the lead roles divided critics and viewers, but there are high hopes for Universal Pictures’ new Miami Vice 85, helmed by F1 and Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski.
The film, currently in production, sees 2026 Oscar winner Jordan (Sinners) and Elvis star Butler step into the roles of Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and James “Sonny” Crockett, with Universal this week releasing the first official photos of the pair in character.
“This might bring back the stylish gritty crime thriller Hollywood has been missing… these two look like they belong in this world already,” one American influencer enthused on TikTok.
“It’s awesome casting… a period piece in the ’80s starring these two as detectives. I mean, this first look is perfect,” agreed film critic Zach Pope.
Other fans weren’t totally convinced, noting that the images showed a bearded Tubbs wearing a leather jacket and the gun-pointing Crockett in a grey suit rather than the white or pastel ensembles that are credited with influencing men’s fashion in the ’80s.
“If he doesn’t smoke, doesn’t live on a boat with an alligator, drive a classic sports car or if he wears socks….I’m not watching one minute of this,” quipped one YouTube user, referring to Crockett.
“Looks better than I expected. We’re gonna need white linen suits and pastels though!!,” wrote another fan on Instagram.
“Ok, but whyyyy do they have Michael B looking all gangster?,” asked a third. “I used to watch Miami Vice back in the day. Philip Michael Thomas was portrayed as very handsome, suave, and cool…not a rough, hard gangster.”
The good news is that other photos from the film set shared by People magazine suggest the original looks haven’t been completely ditched, with Butler seen sporting a white suit, open-neck pale blue shirt and sunglasses. It’s not clear if he was stepping out sans socks or not.
Miami Vice 85, due for release in mid-2028, promises to explore “the glamour and corruption of mid-80s Miami”.
The story, according to Variety, is “inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the landmark television series that influenced culture and set the style of everything from fashion to filmmaking”.
Other cast members include John Leguizamo, Andrew Schulz, Whitney Peak, Danny Ramirez, Camila Morrone and Walton Goggins.
Meanwhile, Australians seeking a nostalgia hit can find episodes of the original Miami Vice television series on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, with the 2006 film also available on streamers including Binge and Foxtel.
