Recent set photos and videos from the New York filming of Miami Vice ‘85 show Michael B. Jordan and John Leguizamo in costume, recreating scenes that appear to be faithful renditions of the original TV series pilot. Jordan stars as New York City police detective Ricardo Tubbs, and Leguizamo confirmed on Instagram that he is portraying Esteban Calderone, the antagonist from the pilot episode and an early first-season villain.
Leguizamo's casting is particularly notable as he previously launched his career by playing Calderone's son in the original Miami Vice series. The film, inspired by the two-part pilot episode "Brother's Keeper" and the show's first season, appears to be leaning heavily into its source material.
Images depict Jordan's Tubbs in an outfit closely resembling that worn by original actor Philip Michael Thomas in the pilot's opening scenes. Leguizamo's appearance, complete with slicked-back hair, a mustache, and a cigar, is a direct nod to Miguel Piñero's portrayal of Calderone. Jordan is reportedly recreating actions and facial expressions from the sequence where Tubbs pursues Calderone, with the main visual difference being a beard, which Tubbs did not sport until later seasons.
In the series, Calderone's actions led to the deaths of characters close to Crockett and Tubbs, explaining the eventual partnership between the New York detective and the Miami Dade P.D. undercover officer. While the prospect of a new, 1980s-set Miami Vice film that treats the subject matter faithfully is exciting for fans, the faithful recreation of the pilot's events could potentially be predictable for those familiar with the original.
There is a concern that a beat-for-beat remake of the pilot might not offer enough narrative novelty. The film's production is currently underway in New York and will move to Miami after hurricane season. Miami Vice ‘85 is scheduled to open in theaters on May 19, 2028. Michael Mann's 2006 Miami Vice film also drew inspiration from a first-season episode, "Smuggler's Blues," but built an original narrative around it, diverging from the series' signature flash and charm. This approach by Miami Vice ‘85, however, suggests a return to the show's roots.