Joseph Kosinski to Direct New Miami Vice Movie for Universal

Universal Pictures is officially moving forward with a new theatrical adaptation of "Miami Vice", and they've enlisted acclaimed director Joseph Kosinski to helm the project. Based on the iconic 1980s NBC television series, this fresh take on "Miami Vice" is described as a gritty, high-energy drama centered around undercover cops battling the violent world of international drug trafficking. 

The screenplay is penned by Oscar-nominated writer Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler, Andor), with Dylan Clark (The Batman) on board to produce alongside Kosinski. No cast has been attached yet. 

This reboot has been quietly developing for some time, but momentum is now picking up, especially as Kosinski's profile continues to soar. He is currently generating major buzz with "F1", his Brad Pitt-led Formula One racing drama produced by Apple and set to hit theaters via Warner Bros. Following F1, Kosinski is expected to reunite with frequent collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer - with whom he made the smash hit Top Gun: Maverick - for an untitled UFO-themed project also at Apple. Once that project is underway, "Miami Vice" is expected to follow closely behind in his schedule.

The original "Miami Vice" series was the brainchild of NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff, who famously pitched the idea with a simple but effective directive: create a cop show with the visual flair and musical energy of MTV, which was dominating the cultural landscape at the time. Creator Anthony Yerkovich developed the concept, and filmmaker Michael Mann brought it to life, turning "Miami Vice" into a visual and sonic emblem of the 1980s.

Set against the neon-lit backdrop of Miami's seedy underworld, the series followed detectives Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) as they infiltrated the criminal empires fueled by the booming cocaine trade. The show became renowned for its pastel fashions, fast cars, pulsating synthesizer soundtracks, and use of then-current Top 40 hits, which helped to define an era of television with a sleek, cinematic style rarely seen at the time.

"Miami Vice" ran for five seasons, becoming one of the most influential shows of its decade. In 2006, Michael Mann returned to the material with a darker, grittier feature film adaptation starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx as Crockett and Tubbs, respectively.