Why Austin Butler Cannot Drive the Iconic Black Ferrari in Miami Vice '85

Fresh footage from the set of Miami Vice '85 has fans of the classic Series talking, and not entirely for the right reasons. New videos show Austin Butler's Sonny Crockett and Michael B. Jordan's Ricardo Tubbs driving a white Ferrari Testarossa, a car that doesn't match the period of the TV series that director Joseph Kosinski's film is retelling.

The reaction was immediate. The black Ferrari Daytona Spyder is one of the most recognizable cars in television history. Many viewers see its absence as a break from the look and feel that made the show a cultural landmark.

Before getting to the car, here is what we know about the production and why this detail matters so much.

What the New Set Videos Actually Reveal

The videos, reportedly filmed by onlookers during location shooting, show Butler and Jordan cruising in a gleaming white Testarossa. The pair appear in character, dressed in pastel-friendly, sun-soaked styling that nods to the show's signature fashion.

The Testarossa is undeniably striking. With its side strakes and wide rear end, it is a defining supercar of the 1980s. But it is not the car most people picture when they think of Sonny Crockett.

Online, the footage spread quickly. Fans compared screenshots with classic episodes, and the debate over authenticity began almost overnight.

The History Behind the Famous Black Ferrari

In the early seasons of Miami Vice, Crockett drove a black Ferrari Daytona Spyder. In truth, it was a replica built on a Corvette chassis, because the production could not rely on a real, extremely expensive Daytona for stunts and hard use.

Ferrari was reportedly unhappy about the replica's presence on the show. This led to a famous change: the replica was destroyed on screen, and a real white Testarossa took its place in later seasons.

So the white Testarossa does have a legitimate place in the show's history. The issue is timing, since it arrived later in the series and does not represent the show's earlier, more iconic image.

Why the Testarossa Seems Wrong for the Period

The film is titled Miami Vice '85, which suggests a story set at the dawn of the series' era. In that setting, the black Daytona is the car viewers expect to see, and the white Testarossa feels like a leap ahead.

Car enthusiasts have been especially vocal. They point out that the Testarossa debuted in 1984, so it is not impossible for 1985, but it was not the car associated with Crockett at that point in the show.

Whether the filmmakers have a story reason for the choice remains unclear. For now, the decision looks like a deliberate departure rather than an oversight.

Why Austin Butler Cannot Drive the Black Ferrari

The title question has a practical answer. Real Ferrari Daytona Spyders are rare, valuable and fragile, and they are not cars a studio can hand to actors for chase scenes and tight-schedule shoots.

Even the show's original black car was a replica for exactly this reason. Building a convincing copy today would be possible, but it would take time and money, and it would still carry the risk of damage during filming.

Licensing may also play a role. Ferrari is famously protective of its image, and its history with the original series shows how seriously it treats how its cars are portrayed on screen.

Ferrari's Complicated Relationship With the Series

Ferrari's displeasure with the replica Daytona is a well-known piece of television lore. The company reportedly pressured the producers, and the on-screen destruction of the fake car was the result.

That history gives the new film's choice an interesting edge. Using a genuine Testarossa could be a way to avoid the same dispute while still offering a Ferrari centerpiece.

It also shows how much the show's identity is tied to cars. Few series have made a vehicle as central to a character as Miami Vice did.

How Fans Are Reacting to the Casting and Cars

Reaction to the production has been mixed. Many fans are excited by Butler and Jordan as leads, and by Kosinski, whose work on action and racing films suggests he can make driving scenes thrilling.

Others see the Testarossa as a warning sign. For them, the show's look was never only about fast cars but about a specific mood, and the wrong details could undermine it.

Still, plenty of viewers are willing to wait. A few seconds of set footage rarely tell the whole story of a film.

What This Means for the Film's Direction

The car choice may hint at a looser retelling. Rather than a strict recreation, Miami Vice '85 might treat the series as inspiration, keeping its spirit while updating or reshuffling its famous elements.

That approach can work. Reboots often succeed when they respect the source without copying it, and a white Testarossa still delivers the glamour associated with the brand and the setting.

The risk is alienating longtime fans who want the iconic black Ferrari. Whether the film brings it back in some form, perhaps as a nod or cameo, is a question worth watching.

What to Expect as Production Continues

More set footage and official images will likely surface as filming progresses. Each new clip will be examined for clues about the story, the era and the vehicles that will define the film.

For now, the white Testarossa is a talking point and a reminder of how passionate Miami Vice fans remain decades later. Until the studio reveals more, the debate over the black Ferrari will keep running.

We will keep following the production and report on any new details about the cars, the cast and the film's release.

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