Miami Vice ’85 cast adds Walton Goggins as epic villain

Walton Goggins is heading to 1980s Miami. The “Fallout” star is joining the Miami Vice ’85 cast alongside Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler in Universal’s big-screen take on the classic NBC cop drama, Deadline reported Thursday, citing sources.

Goggins is expected to play a heavy. According to unconfirmed sources cited by the trade, his character is one of the henchmen working for the cartel boss played by John Leguizamo.

Why the Goggins deal took time

Director Joseph Kosinski was keen on Goggins early, Deadline said, but his schedule on Prime Video’s “Fallout” had to be worked out first. Once that was settled last week, the Emmy nominee’s deal to join the Miami Vice ’85 cast came together.

Goggins is in production on Season 3 of the Kilter Films series for Amazon. Our earlier story covers another new face in “Fallout” Season 3.

Who else is in the Miami Vice ’85 cast

Jordan and Butler lead an ensemble that also includes Whitney Peak, Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone, Leguizamo and Danny Ramirez. Jordan’s involvement first surfaced as a rumor last year, when we covered reports that he was eyeing a role in the reboot.

With Goggins aboard, the Miami Vice ’85 cast gains an actor who is “no stranger to showing off his bad side,” as Deadline put it.

Built on the show’s 1984 pilot

Dan Gilroy wrote the screenplay, working from an earlier draft by Eric Warren Singer. Inspired by the pilot of the original 1984-90 series, the film digs into the glitz and graft of Miami in the mid-’80s. It uses characters Anthony Yerkovich created for the show, which he executive produced with Michael Mann.

Kosinski produces with Dylan Clark through Dylan Clark Productions. At Universal, Sara Scott, executive vice president of production development, and Christina Hoffrogge, creative executive of production development, are overseeing the film.

A May 2028 release in Imax

Universal has dated the film for May 19, 2028, and it will be shot for Imax. Cameras are set to roll this year.

Goggins recently wrapped “Mister,” directed by Wade Eastwood and produced by Thunder Road Film for Amazon International. He is also part of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ coming-of-age animated film “Hexed,” in theaters Nov. 25.

For more, see our look at Goggins’ 2025 Emmys outfit and the latest movie news.