Gathegi joins a massive, high-profile call sheet that already features an enviable roster of Hollywood talent, including Michael B. Jordan, Austin Butler, Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, Danny Ramirez, John Leguizamo, and Andrew Schulz.
The feature project is being spearheaded by filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, whose kinetic and propulsive directorial style defined box office hits like Top Gun: Maverick and the upcoming racing feature F1. Kosinski is stepping behind the camera to helm this fresh cinematic take on the legendary 1980s television show. Production on the film is slated to begin this November, with principal photography scheduled to take place across locations in New York City and Miami.
According to studio details, this new feature film will delve deeply into the glamour, excess, and entrenched corruption of mid-1980s Miami. Rather than acting as a straightforward contemporary remake, the project is a newly envisioned version of the property heavily inspired by the thematic tone and atmospheric mood of the pilot episode of the landmark television series.
The original television series, created by Anthony Yerkovich, famously starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as James Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, two undercover Miami police officers who became cultural icons for their signature blend of dangerous police work, high-speed boat chases, and impeccably tailored pastel suits. In Kosinski’s upcoming feature update, Michael B. Jordan will take on the role of Ricardo Tubbs, while Austin Butler is set to play James Crockett, bringing a fresh wave of swagger and style to the iconic detective duo.
Within this sprawling narrative world, Edi Gathegi has secured a key supporting role. Sources indicate that Gathegi will portray a small-time crook harboring outsized, big-time ambitions, a character who ultimately finds himself dangerously in over his head amidst the high-stakes criminal underworld of 1980s Miami.
Universal Pictures has high cinematic aspirations for the project, planning to film Vice ’85 specifically for Imax formats to capture the scale and visual splendor of its period setting. The studio has already staked out a major release date for the movie, scheduling it to hit theaters on May 19, 2028. Behind the scenes, the project is being produced by Dylan Clark through his Dylan Clark Productions banner—known for gritty, visionary blockbusters like The Batman—alongside director Joseph Kosinski.
Gathegi’s casting in Miami Vice ’85 continues a stellar career trajectory that has seen the actor land prominent roles in major cinematic universes and critically acclaimed television projects alike. He most recently gained intense attention from both fans and critics who praised his cool-under-pressure demeanor and droll, sophisticated take on Mr. Terrific, the long-standing and beloved DC Comics character, in James Gunn’s Superman. Gathegi’s impact in that film was significant enough that he is set to reprise the character in next year’s highly anticipated sequel, Man of Tomorrow.
Beyond his footprint in the superhero genre, Gathegi’s extensive feature film credits reflect a remarkably versatile career. He previously delivered a memorable performance in the Netflix Western The Harder They Fall, starring alongside a powerhouse cast that included Idris Elba, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo. His résumé also boasts appearances in major franchise fare, including X-Men: First Class and entries in the global phenomenon The Twilight Saga. On the television front, Gathegi has further cemented his dramatic bona fides as a series regular on Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed hit alt-history space drama For All Mankind.
As production approaches for Miami Vice ’85, Gathegi is represented in his career endeavors by talent agency IAG and legal representation firm Yorn Levine.