Updated October 2026.
TL;DR: October is a bridge month for Miami scripted production — and it’s worth saying plainly. Universal’s Miami Vice ’85 is shooting its fall unit in the New York/New Jersey area and brings the production to Miami in November. HBO’s Miami-set The Spread, starring Javier Bardem, is in development and expected to film here. Meanwhile, the engine that actually hires Miami talent every week — commercials, Spanish-language television at Telemundo and Univision, reality, and music videos — never stopped rolling.
What’s Filming in Miami in October 2026
Miami Vice ’85 (Universal Pictures). The reboot of the defining Miami franchise, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler alongside Walton Goggins and Alden Ehrenreich, directed by Joseph Kosinski and shooting in IMAX. The fall shoot spans New York and Miami: October’s activity is in New Jersey and New York City under the working title “Freefall,” with the Miami unit expected to begin in November 2026. Theatrical release is set for May 19, 2028. For Miami talent, the actionable news is the runway — a production of this scale will need local background, day players, and period-perfect 1980s looks when it lands, and the time to be registered and ready is now, not the week the calls post.
The Spread (HBO / Fifth Season, Makeready, Topic Studios). A Miami-set finance drama starring Javier Bardem, directed by Matthew Vaughn, which received a straight-to-series order in September 2026. It’s in development and expected to film in Miami, with dates still to be announced. A series order for an HBO drama set — and shot — in Miami is the kind of project that builds a local casting pipeline for years if it bases here.
R.J. Decker — Season 2 (ABC). Scott Speedman’s ex-con private-eye drama shot its second season in Wilmington, NC, with South Florida location work in Fort Lauderdale and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. It wrapped in mid-September 2026 — recently finished rather than currently filming, but a useful signal: South Florida continues to draw network location units even when the home base sits elsewhere.
The Market That Never Pauses
Between the headline projects, Miami’s standing production economy keeps casting. The city is the U.S. headquarters for Telemundo (NBCUniversal) and Univision (TelevisaUnivision), whose studio operations in Miami-Dade produce telenovelas, series, news, talk, and variety programming in Spanish on a continuous cycle — bilingual and Spanish-dominant talent audition here year-round. Layer on the commercial corridor (national brands shooting lifestyle, travel, automotive, and fashion spots against guaranteed exteriors), the Latin music industry’s constant music video production, cruise and tourism advertising out of PortMiami, and reality and unscripted formats that cast real people — and Miami generates paid on-camera work in every month of the year, incentive or no incentive.
The Honest Word on Florida Incentives
Florida currently has no state-level film and television tax incentive program — the previous program expired in 2016, and no replacement has passed as of this writing. That’s why credit-chasing series and features base in Georgia or Louisiana instead. What it means for talent: Miami’s volume comes from location, weather, audience markets, and the Spanish-language production hub, not from rebates. Some local film offices offer permitting help and limited local support, but nothing at state-credit scale. Plan around the market Miami actually has — and if a state program ever passes, the actors already positioned here benefit first.
How to Get Cast on Miami Productions
- Keep a current Project Casting profile and check the board daily. Miami casting moves fast, especially commercials. Browse casting calls for Miami and South Florida, and keep headshots, stats, and contact info current — sloppy submissions get deleted in a high-volume market.
- Use the bilingual advantage if you have it. Spanish fluency is the single biggest competitive edge in this city — Telemundo and Univision productions cast continuously, and bilingual actors can audition for roughly twice the work. List your actual level honestly; casting will test it.
- Start with background. Commercials, Spanish-language series, music videos, and reality shows all hire background in volume. Register with Miami background casting companies, show up reliable, and you’ll meet the assistant directors and casting associates who staff the next call.
- Build a self-tape and UGC kit. Much of Miami’s commercial casting runs on self-tapes, and brands hire creators directly for testimonial-style content. A phone tripod, decent light, a plain backdrop, and three or four short demo clips are a realistic starter kit — no agent required.
- Get ready for November now. When Miami Vice ’85 brings its unit to Miami, local casting will move quickly. Materials ready, profiles current, availability clear — that’s the difference between watching the calls and booking them.
- Never pay to audition. Legitimate casting directors and agencies earn from productions and commissions, never from actors. Upfront fees, paid “registration,” or mandatory paid headshot packages are scams, full stop.
FAQ
When does Miami Vice ’85 film in Miami?
The production’s fall shoot spans New York and Miami. October 2026 activity is in New Jersey and New York City under the working title “Freefall,” and the Miami unit is expected to begin in November 2026.
Does Florida have a film tax incentive?
No. Florida has no state-level film and television incentive program — the previous program expired in 2016. Miami’s production volume is driven by commercials, Spanish-language television, reality, music videos, and tourism advertising rather than tax credits.
Do I need to speak Spanish to act in Miami?
Not required — but it’s a major advantage. Miami is the U.S. hub for Spanish-language TV production, and bilingual talent auditions for substantially more work. English-only actors still book commercials, music videos, reality TV, and tourism campaigns.
What is filming in Miami right now?
October is a transition month: The Spread is in development at HBO, Miami Vice ’85 arrives in November, and the year-round commercial, Spanish-language TV, reality, and music video market is casting continuously. Check the casting calls board for what’s open this week.
Miami’s biggest shoot of the year lands next month. Get your materials ready while the runway is clear.
