Crockett and Tubbs are heading back to the big screen with Universal’s new Miami Vice reboot, with the studio confirming an August 6, 2027 release date on Wednesday. F1 director Joseph Kosinski will direct from a script by Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) and Eric Singer (Top Gun: Maverick). Casting is said to be under way, with filming set to begin some time next year.

The film will be based on the first season of the beloved Miami Vice series that ran from 1984 to 1989, starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as the pastel-clad detectives Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs. No story details have surfaced yet, but it’s possible that the roles of Crockett and Tubbs could be among the most coveted in Hollywood at the moment, with the potential for a new franchise.

Both Johnson and Thomas were 35 years old when Miami Vice debuted on NBC in the fall of 1984, and when director Michael Mann brought the franchise to the big screen in 2006, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx were 30 and 39, respectively.

There’s no indication yet that Universal plans to stick within this age range, but if they do, there are more than enough fine candidates to play Crockett, Tubbs, their boss Lt. Martin Castillo (Edward James Olmos in the TV series and Barry Shabaka Henley in the film), and the potential villain.

James “Sonny” Crockett — Glenn Powell

If Universal isn’t already on the phone with Powell, then there’s something deeply wrong. The 36-year-old actor is quite simply the perfect choice to play a modern version of Crockett. He not only has the star power and the look the studio likely wants, but an ample range as an actor that would serve this character well.

Powell has proven in a very short amount of time that he has a deep well to draw from, playing the snarky H๏τ-sH๏τ in Twisters just as effectively as he portrays the multi-faceted professor in Hit Man. His star power is off the charts, which he could cement even further with his highly-anticipated remake of The Running Man.

Other strong candidates the studio would likely consider include Zac Efron, 37, Miles Teller, 38, Dylan O’Brien, 34, Evan Peters, 38, Austin Butler, 34, Cole Sprouse, 33 and Scott Eastwood, 39, to name but a few. Still, there may not be someone who has the star power, the chops, and the look to play Sonny Crockett quite like Glenn Powell.

Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs — David Jonsson

This may not be the most obvious choice from a box office draw perspective, but David Jonsson has quickly proven to be one of the best actors in Hollywood. The 32-year-old British actor first burst onto the scene in HBO’s Industry, before earning rave reviews in 2023’s Rye Lane, 2024’s Alien: Romulus and this year’s The Long Walk.

The subdued demeanor he perfectly portrayed in Alien: Romulus (and in The Long Walk) would be the perfect compliment to his partner. Tubbs is much more straight-laced, but Jonsson has the range to portray both Tubbs’ playful and darker sides. He initially comes to Miami on a vendetta against a drug dealer named Calderone, who murdered his brother Rafael.

The studio will certainly be looking at others, perhaps the most obvious choice being 38-year-old Michael B. Jordan, given his career trajectory. Daniel Kaluuya, 36, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, 39, Lakeith Stanfield, 34, John Boyega, 33 and Damson Idris, 34, would all be viable choices as well, but Jonsson just has everything a big-screen Tubbs would need.

Lieutenant Martin Castillo – Michael Pena

Edward James Olmos was just two years older than Johnson and Thomas when he portrayed their commanding officer, Lt. Martin Castillo, though he certainly possessed the gravitas to make it work. Should Universal go with someone significantly older than Powell and Jonsson, a great choice would be 49-year-old Michael Pena.

What makes Pena such an exceptional choice is his flair for both the dramatic and comedic, which could both be employed in various ways as Lt. Castillo. He’s also no stranger to action franchises and should there be a need for Castillo to engage in the criminal underworld beyond his office, he could be a wonderful ᴀsset to the film.

Universal did change the character to a Black man with Barry Shabaka Henley taking over the role in the 2006 feature film, so it’s possible they could change course again. If they do decide to cast a Latino actor, others in consideration could be Oscar Isaac, Diego Luna or Gael Garcia Bernal. However, Michael Pena would offer the most versatility.

Esteban Calderone – Marc Anthony

There is no official confirmation that this movie will bring back the drug kingpin Esteban Calderone as the villain, but it would make the most sense. The studio has confirmed that the film will be based on the first season, and establishing Calderone as the villain just seems to be a perfect fit.

It was Calderone, after all, that brought Tubbs to Miami from New York City in the first place, which could very easily be explored in the film. While Marc Anthony hasn’t had a feature film role since 2021’s In The Heights (his first role since 2004’s Man on Fire, though he did have a reality TV appearance recently), he has the perfect look and energy to portray this character.

Since he only appeared in a handful of episodes during the original series, it could be a chance to flesh the character out a lot more too. The studio could consider others with bigger profiles like Javier Bardem for this role, but Marc Anthony could very well be a perfect fit.