Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler have been photographed filming scenes together in New York City for Universal’s upcoming crime thriller reboot, Miami Vice ’85. According to Just Jared, the two principal actors were spotted shooting near the water on the evening of November 2, 2026. Directed by Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Dan Gilroy, the feature places Jordan in the role of Detective Ricardo Tubbs alongside Butler as Detective Sonny Crockett. The project revisits the mid-1980s setting of the classic NBC television drama and is scheduled for a theatrical release on May 19, 2028.

On Set With Crockett, Tubbs, and Lieutenant Rodriguez

Additional images from the production surfaced on social media and were detailed by ComingSoon.net on November 3, 2026, offering a first look at actor Michael Irby alongside the two leads. In the photographs, Jordan and Butler appear to be engaged in a conversation while dressed in period-appropriate tailoring—Jordan in a darker suit on the left and Butler in a lighter-colored suit on the right.

Standing directly between them is Irby, dressed in a grayish police uniform complete with a badge, a visual arrangement that suggests his character could serve as a mediator between the undercover partners.

The 53-year-old Irby is expected to portray Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez, the head of the Metro-Dade Police Department’s Organized Crime Bureau, according to Yahoo Entertainment. While the studio has yet to formally confirm his character assignment, the role of Rodriguez is familiar to fans of the original 1980s broadcast run, where the commanding officer was played by Gregory Sierra during the show's early episodes.

Reports currently differ regarding the primary base of operations for the shoot. While ComingSoon.net and Just Jared identify the November 2, 2026, sequences with Jordan, Butler, and Irby as taking place in New York City, World of Reel reported on November 4, 2026, that the production is currently filming in Miami.

In the original television pilot, Tubbs travels from New York to Florida while pursuing a vendetta, making it possible that the varying location reports reflect different portions of the shooting schedule, though Universal has not issued an official statement resolving the geographic details.

Full-Circle Casting and Specialized Action Camera Work

Beyond the central police trio, Miami Vice ’85 has assembled a large supporting cast that includes John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone, Danny Ramirez, Whitney Peak, André Holland, Edi Gathegi, and Andrew Schulz. In a recent interview with ComicBook.com promoting his Audible series Exoplanet, Leguizamo confirmed he will play the film's central antagonist, infamous drug lord Esteban Calderone. The casting represents a notable full-circle moment for the franchise: more than 40 years ago, Leguizamo made one of his earliest screen appearances in the original Miami Vice television series playing Esteban's son, Orlando Calderone.

Sporting a thick throwback mustache for the role, Leguizamo praised the preparation and physical commitment of his co-stars during pre-production tactical sessions.

"I mean, this version: Joe Kosinski, Dan Gilroy, Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler – what? These guys are bringing it, man," Leguizamo told ComicBook.com. "We did some gun training together, and Austin and Michael B. were just… They got so good, man. I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be fire!’ And I wanted to keep up too, so I’m gonna be shooting and hurting folk and fighting. We’re gonna have incredible choreography."

Leguizamo also highlighted the technical approach Kosinski is bringing to the crime thriller following the director's work on Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie. In addition to shooting the feature for IMAX theaters, Kosinski is utilizing compact rig technology to capture close-quarters combat and gunfights. "The way that Joe Kosinski shoots, no one shoots like him," Leguizamo explained. "No one uses a Turkey camera the way he does.

It’s a whole new type of camera, just like Chris Nolan did the IMAX thing: Joe Kosinski has this thing called a 'Turkey,' which is the smallest camera that can fit anywhere and can follow you and do crazy things."

Returning to 1980s Roots and Box Office Strategy

The creative direction of Miami Vice ’85 marks a distinct departure from the franchise's previous big-screen adaptation. When filmmaker Michael Mann directed the 2006 theatrical version starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, he updated the setting to the present day and employed a gritty, documentary-style realism. By contrast, Kosinski and screenwriter Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) are anchoring their narrative directly in the mid-1980s, set a year before the original series began and taking narrative cues from the television pilot and first season.

According to the official synopsis cited by ComingSoon.net, the plot follows vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs from Miami-Dade's organized crime bureau as they go undercover as criminals to infiltrate and dismantle southern Florida's illicit enterprises.

The period setting allows the production to lean directly into the neon-lit excess, corruption, and high-stakes drug trafficking that defined the NBC series at its cultural peak.

According to World of Reel, principal photography is expected to wrap in December, leaving a 17-month post-production window ahead of Universal's May 19, 2028, release date. The extended timeline gives the filmmaking team ample runway to edit the complex IMAX and specialized camera footage while positioning the R-rated-style action vehicle as a major summer box office tentpole for the 2028 theatrical calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the New York City scenes only a portion of production, given reports that filming is taking place in Miami?

Industry reports currently present differing location details. While Just Jared and ComingSoon.net reported that Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler, and Michael Irby filmed scenes together in New York City on November 2, 2026, World of Reel reported on November 4, 2026, that the movie is filming in Miami.

These accounts likely reflect different legs of the production schedule, though Universal has not publicly detailed the exact shooting itinerary.

Has Universal officially confirmed Michael Irby’s character as Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez?

No official studio confirmation has been issued yet. Set photos show the 53-year-old actor in a police uniform with a badge standing between the two leads, and ComingSoon.net reports that he is expected to play Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez, the head of the Organized Crime Bureau originally portrayed by Gregory Sierra.

Which cast member teased the reboot's intense gun training and camera technology?

Co-star John Leguizamo, who plays drug lord Esteban Calderone, shared details about the film's action choreography and weapons training in an interview with ComicBook.com. While Michael Irby appeared in the recent New York City set photos, he has not made public remarks regarding the film's stunt sequences.

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