Man Arrested for Knife Incident on Brooklyn Set of 'Miami Vice '85'

By Elena Vasquez

Police arrested a 23-year-old Brooklyn man on the set of "Miami Vice '85" late Friday after he brandished a knife near crew members. The New York Police Department charged Alex Perez with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, the department confirmed to Variety.

The arrest took place around 11 p.m. on the film's Brooklyn set, near Washington Cemetery. The NYPD confirmed the incident occurred on set. No injuries were reported.

What did the footage show?

TMZ first published video of the incident. The footage shows officers handcuffing Perez before a police officer removes a large butcher knife from his sweatshirt pocket.

The outlet reported that Perez has five prior arrests. Those arrests, according to TMZ, include alleged gang-related activities, assault with a firearm, and burglary.

The incident did not halt the production's broader trajectory. Filming began earlier this month, and first-look images of the film's two leads in character already surfaced publicly.

Who is making the new 'Miami Vice'?

Variety first reported in October 2025 that a "Miami Vice" reboot was in development with Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan attached. The film received its official title, "Miami Vice '85," in April 2026.

The casting maps directly onto the original series. Jordan stars as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Butler plays James "Sonny" Crockett, the roles originated by Philip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson in the 1980s television series.

Joseph Kosinski directs. His previous credits place him among the highest-grossing action directors of the decade, which sets the commercial stakes for this reboot.

What is the film about?

The film's logline states that Kosinski's "Miami Vice '85" will explore "the glamour and corruption of mid-80's Miami." The project is "inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the landmark television series that influenced culture and set the style of everything from fashion to filmmaking."

Dan Gilroy wrote the script. The screenplay is based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich for the original television series, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1990.

The logline's reference to the pilot and first season indicates the reboot returns to the show's earliest and most influential period rather than its later run. In plain terms: the filmmakers are rebuilding the franchise from its 1984 foundation.

When does it reach theaters?

Universal has scheduled "Miami Vice '85" for an Aug. 6, 2027 theatrical release. That date puts the reboot roughly a year and a half from the start of principal photography.

The Friday arrest adds a note of off-screen volatility to a production that has otherwise moved quickly from announcement to filming within eight months. Whether the incident affects the shooting schedule remains unaddressed in public statements.

For now, the facts stand: one arrest, five prior arrests on the suspect's record, zero injuries, and a release date that Universal has not moved.