Joseph Kosinski goes back to the 80s: The filming locations of Miami Vice '85
Miami Vice '85
Wayne, New Jersey did not expect to wake up in 1985. But in October, 2026, a production crew transformed part of the Preakness Shopping Center into a period Miami streetscape – retro storefronts, box trucks full of props and towering palm trees in the carpark. Filming for Miami Vice '85 – Joseph Kosinski's IMAX reboot starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler – has started.
Miami Vice '85 is Universal Pictures' reboot of the iconic NBC series, directed by Joseph Kosinski – whose Top Gun: Maverick and F1 have between them redefined what IMAX action cinema can look like. The film explores the glamour and corruption of mid-'80s Miami, inspired by the original series' pilot episode and first season.
Jordan plays Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Butler plays James "Sonny" Crockett. The screenplay is by Eric Warren Singer and Dan Gilroy. Produced by Dylan Clark and Kosinski.
Production is filming under the working title Freefall.
On October 1, 2026, workers descended on the Preakness Shopping Center on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne, New Jersey – hanging retro signs over empty storefronts, unloading box trucks filled with set decorations and positioning large planters containing palm trees in the parking lot. The 1980s had returned to Wayne.
The Preakness Shopping Center – a typical New Jersey suburban retail strip, its older commercial architecture making it a practical candidate for period transformation – was converted into an approximation of 1980s Miami streetscape. Retro storefronts. Period signage. Towering palm trees in the carpark.
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A casting call seems to confirm filming in New York City, with tentative shooting dates including October 15, 16, 26 and 30, as well as November 2 through 5. The casting call sought real law enforcement-experienced men to appear as background actors – the specific requirement for genuine police experience suggesting scenes requiring authentic procedural behaviour rather than simply period extras. Performers were not expected to be needed on every date.
The original Miami Vice series filmed across Downtown Miami, South Beach, Biscayne Boulevard, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and the Venetian Causeway with a crew that was 95% local. The city's Art Deco architecture, its waterways, its powerboats and the specific quality of Florida light remain intact and available.
Kosinski built F1 on practical on-location racing photography. If he brings that same physical, immersive approach to Miami Vice '85, South Florida's streets and water are the logical next chapter in the production.
Miami Vice '85's release date is May 19, 2028
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Universal Pictures
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