Joseph Kosinski‘s next project has been confirmed, and it involves an iconic 1980s TV series. After helping to create impactful commercials for Microsoft’s hit video games Halo 3 and Gears of War, Kosinski made his leap to the big screen with 2010’s Tron: Legacy, a sequel to the cult-classic Disney sci-fi adventure. Kosinski would follow Tron: Legacy with Oblivion and Only the Brave, the former of which would see him team up with Tom Cruise.
Kosinski later joined the production of the long-in-development Top Gun sequel that would eventually become Top Gun: Maverick. The movie saw Cruise’s beloved Pete “Maverick” Mitchell return to train a new generation of pilots for their own high-stakes missions. Despite an exacerbated production, Top Gun: Maverick was a critical and financial hit, landing as the second-highest-grossing movie of 2022 with $1.5 billion worldwide and earning several Oscar nominations.
Kosinski Will Direct A Miami Vice Movie Reboot
The Director Will Revisit Two Other Stylish ’80s Action Heroes
First airing in September 1984 on NBC, Miami Vice took audiences into the criminal underworld of Miami alongside two undercover detectives. Starring Don Johnson as James “Sonny” Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, the series ran for 114 episodes over five seasons from 1984 to 1990. Miami Vice stood out from its contemporaries for its stylization and modern elements, leaving an impact that can still be seen in subsequent police procedurals, video games, and the overall perception of the city.
As shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Miami Vice will be brought to the big screen once again with a feature-length reboot. Kosinski will helm the feature, while Nightcrawler‘s Dan Gilroy will pen the script. While few details have been revealed, the Universal reboot will be produced by Dylan Clark Productions and Monolith.
Our Take On Kosinski’s Miami Vice Reboot
The Director May Bring The Series Back To Its Core Elements
Kosinski isn’t the first director to bring Sonny and Rico’s cases to the big screen, as series producer Michael Mann previously reimagined Miami Vice for the big screen in 2006. Led by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the roles of the two detectives, the far more serious reboot initially received criticism for its more grounded, grittier approach, but has found greater appreciation in the years since its release. However, several factors may suggest Kosinski will not follow Mann’s original approach.
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Cop films, such as Lethal Weapon and 48 Hrs. have always been big, but network TV in the 70s and 80s was known for its great cop shows, like these 10.
In the years since the 2006 movie’s release, another classic police drama has been brought to the big screen with the Jump Street franchise, which managed to pay respect to the original show while appealing to young fans. Kosinski’s handling of Top Gun: Maverick could show that he will return to the original Miami Vice‘s roots with a lighter, chemistry-focused tale that may instead act as a continuation of the series. Kosinski’s 2022 hit has set high expectations for his career, so Miami Vice is sure to find its audience.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter