MOVIE NEWS – Back in 1986, Don Johnson, the rising star of Miami Vice, made one of Hollywood’s strangest decisions by turning down the lead role in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables. Easy money for a now-iconic gangster movie? Johnson didn’t think so. Burned out from playing cops on flashy TV shows, he feared being pigeonholed forever.

Miami Vice quickly catapulted Johnson to major fame from 1984 to 1989, but the actor was wary of being forever typecast. In a recent interview, Johnson detailed why he skipped the role that would skyrocket Kevin Costner’s career. Thanks to The Untouchables, Costner launched himself into directing, producing, and eventual Oscar glory. As the saying goes, “Clothes make the man.”

Johnson’s breakout came suddenly in 1984. Once a near-unknown indie actor from the 1975 film A Boy and His Dog, he became synonymous with Vice Detective Sonny Crockett — designer suits, fast cars, and all. Yet, as he revealed on Graham Norton’s show, his iconic style was pure survival: he ditched socks and ties to avoid heatstroke while filming under Florida’s brutal sun.

Desperate to Break Free from Sonny Crockett

Despite men copying his style and women idolizing him, Johnson felt smothered by the hype. By 1986, he knew he had to kill his cop persona to survive professionally. When Brian De Palma offered him the lead in a remake of a forgotten ‘50s TV series, Johnson didn’t hesitate: no more cops, no more Armani suits. The Eliot Ness role felt bland and uninspiring.

Speaking on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, he explained: “I realized early on I had to separate Don Johnson from Sonny Crockett — fast. I had to choose radically different projects to avoid being boxed in.” Unaware that Robert De Niro would later join the cast, Johnson passed. Meanwhile, Costner — then an obscure actor whose scenes had been cut from The Big Chill — got the call of a lifetime.

To be fair, even big names like Michael Douglas, Gene Hackman, and Harrison Ford reportedly declined the part. Costner wasn’t the first choice — he just seized the opportunity everyone else overlooked.

Life After Miami Vice

Instead of chasing blockbuster fame, Johnson starred in the forgettable rom-com Sweet Hearts Dance. Later roles kept him afloat, including a reunion with Costner in Tin Cup. Ironically, trying to dodge cop roles, Johnson ended up back behind the wheel in 1996’s Nash Bridges. He later transitioned to strong supporting roles in movies like Django Unchained and Knives Out.

Any regrets? Not really. Johnson spent his post-Vice years making music, racing powerboats, and shooting guns with Hunter S. Thompson. Nowadays, he stars in ABC’s Doctor Odyssey on Hulu.

Source: MovieWeb