We already know that Denzel Washington stars in Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” which is being helmed by A24 and Apple Studios. The film was originally reported as a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “High & Low.” Lee hired Alan Fox and Lee to write the script.
The film, which has already been shot, is supposedly being set up for Spring 2025 release, at least according to Lee (via The Montreal Gazette). The filmmaker is currently in post-production on the film which he wants to clarify is not a remake, but rather a “reinterpretation” of Kurosawa’s crime thriller.
It's a reinterpretation – not a remake!
“In the Kurosawa film, the central character is a shoemaker. In our interpretation, Denzel is a New York record executive, the best in the business,” Lee says. “But my big wish is that I want people to see this in movie theatres. It will stream later on Apple.”
Kurosawa’s film follows an executive at a Yokohama shoe company who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom.
The great Matthew Libatique was hired as director of photography. Libatique is best known for being Darren Aronofsky’s long-standing DP. They have collaborated together on seven films, including “Requiem For A Dream,” “Black Swan,” and “mother!” Libatique previously collaborated with Lee on four films, including 2006’s “Inside Man.”
Hard to believe, but, as legendary an actor/director duo as Denzel/Spike might be, this will only be the fifth time they have worked together. For some reason, I thought they had made more films. So far, their creative partnership has resulted in “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game,” “Mo Better Blues” and “Inside Man.”
“Highest 2 Lowest” stars Denzel, Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky, Ice Spice, Ilfenesh Hadera and Dean Winters. If Spike is correct, and the film is indeed coming out in “Spring 2025,” then a Cannes world premiere could be a real possibility.