After nearly two decades, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington reunites with legendary filmmaker Spike Lee for Highest 2 Lowest, a gripping new crime thriller set in New York City. The film marks their fifth collaboration and is a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low.
Washington stars as a powerful music mogul known for having the “best ears in the business.” His life takes a dangerous turn when he becomes the target of a ransom plot. Caught in a high-stakes moral dilemma, his decisions carry deadly consequences.
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The film also stars Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and rapper A\$AP Rocky in key roles. The teaser promises a pulse-pounding ride through the city’s gritty streets, combining intense drama with stylish direction.
Directed by Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest features a screenplay by Alan Fox. It is based on Kurosawa’s film, which was inspired by Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom. The project is produced by Todd Black and Jason Michael Berman.
Behind the scenes, the film brings together top-tier talent including cinematographer Matthew Libatique, production designer Mark Friedberg, editors Barry Alexander Brown and Allyson C. Johnson, costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, and composer Howard Drossin. Casting is led by Kim Coleman.
Highest 2 Lowest is presented by A24 and Apple Original Films. It will debut in limited theaters on August 15 before streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5. The film runs 134 minutes and is rated R.
This bold reimagining brings together two longtime creative partners at the top of their game. The collaboration promises a timely, tension-filled story anchored by a powerhouse performance from Washington and Lee’s unmistakable cinematic voice.
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