Austin Butler Debuts His Sonny Crockett Style on the ‘Miami Vice ’85’ Set

Few TV shows defined the look of the 1980s quite like ‘Miami Vice’. The series starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas set trends in fashion and filmmaking, and in 2006 Michael Mann brought it to the big screen with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.

Now, director Joseph Kosinski is reviving the franchise with ‘Miami Vice ’85’. Following his work on ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘F1’, Kosinski is filming the reboot for IMAX, with Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs and Austin Butler as James “Sonny” Crockett.

Now, the first set photos have arrived, giving fans a look at Butler in action. On Monday, October 12, the 35-year-old was spotted filming outside Jerry’s Liquor in Wayne, New Jersey, appearing on set as Crockett for the first time.

Butler wore a pale mint short-sleeve shirt with relaxed white trousers, channeling the breezy pastel style the original show made famous. With his hair swept back and dark sunglasses on, he leaned casually against a pink pole outside a storefront.

He was joined by co-stars Danny Ramirez and Dominic Sessa, who stood alongside him in period-appropriate outfits. Walton Goggins was also seen on set that afternoon. The set sightings arrived on the same day Universal released official first-look images of its 2 leads. Jordan appears as Tubbs in a long black leather coat, while Butler poses as Crockett in a gray jacket, both armed with guns.

Oh yes, Austin Butler can rock a white suit! 👀🔥 He was spotted filming the “Miami Vice ’85" in New Jersey, appearing on set for the first time as detective James “Sonny” Crockett. (📸: Backgrid) https://t.co/FZbJbdOYHu

— ExtraTV (@extratv) October 12, 2026

Universal also confirmed that production is officially underway. Filming began in Wayne earlier this month and is also expected to take place in New York City and Miami. According to the official logline, ‘Miami Vice ’85’ explores the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami. The film is inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the original series.

Kosinski has confirmed the story is set in 1985 and promised a fully committed period look. The script comes from Dan Gilroy and Eric Warren Singer, with Dylan Clark and Kosinski producing.

The director has long been excited about his stars. “Michael is someone I’ve admired for a long time, [and] always wanted to work with him. Austin, I think, is proving himself as someone to watch,” Kosinski told Variety when the actors were first circling the project.

🚨| Three familiar faces on the streets of New Jersey 👀 Austin Butler, Danny Ramirez, and Dominic Sessa seen on the set of Miami Vice ’85 🎬 https://t.co/rOX6ELaQ03

— Miami Vice ‘85 Crave (@MiamiViceCrave) October 12, 2026

Butler rose to leading-man status after playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’, earning a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination. Jordan, meanwhile, is an Oscar winner.

The cast extends far beyond the 2 leads. Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, John Leguizamo, Andrew Schulz, Edi Gathegi, André Holland and Michael Irby have also joined the film.

With Ramirez, Sessa, and Goggins also involved, the reboot is assembling an impressive mix of rising stars and seasoned performers. Fans are already speculating about who each actor will play.

The set photos quickly went viral. Many fans praised Butler’s commitment to the iconic pastel aesthetic. For longtime ‘Miami Vice’ fans, seeing Crockett’s signature style recreated on screen is a promising sign. The early images suggest Kosinski is fully embracing the era’s bold fashion.

‘Miami Vice ’85’ is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 19, 2028. With filming now underway, more set photos are likely to surface in the coming weeks. If these first glimpses are any indication, Butler and Jordan are ready to bring a fresh, stylish energy to the classic detective duo.

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