Highest 2 Lowest
| Highest 2 Lowest | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Spike Lee |
| Screenplay by | William Alan Fox[1] |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Matthew Libatique |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Howard Drossin |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | A24 Apple Original Films |
Release dates | |
Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Highest 2 Lowest is an upcoming American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee and written by William Alan Fox. It is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low, itself loosely based on the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter). The film stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), and ASAP Rocky.
Highest 2 Lowest is scheduled to premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, and is scheduled be released theatrically in the United States by A24 on August 22, 2025, before being made available on Apple TV+ on September 5, 2025.
Cast
[edit]- Denzel Washington as David King
- Ilfenesh Hadera as Pam King
- Jeffrey Wright as Paul Christopher
- Ice Spice as Marisol Cepeda
- ASAP Rocky as Yung Felony
- Dean Winters as Det. Higgins[2]
- John Douglas Thompson as Det. Earl Bridges[3]
- LaChanze as Det. Bell
- Aubrey Joseph as Trey King
- Michael Potts as Patrick Bethea
- Wendell Pierce as Gabe
Production
[edit]Spike Lee received the original script by Alan Fox prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and was involved with rewriting it after Denzel Washington became attached to star.[4][5] In February 2024, the film was announced, to be produced by A24, Todd Black for Escape Artists, and Jason Michael Berman for Mandalay Pictures, with Lee as director and executive producer through his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks label.[6] It is the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington, and their most recent since Inside Man (2006).[5] Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, and Ice Spice joined the cast in the following months.[7][8][9] According to Lee, ASAP Rocky has the "main role" in the film.[5] Principal photography began in New York City on March 4, 2024, with Matthew Libatique as cinematographer, and wrapped on May 31.[10][11]
Release
[edit]In April 2025, Thierry Frémaux, artistic director of the Cannes Film Festival, confirmed that Highest 2 Lowest would be premiering out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025. The festival's official lineup announcement did not include the film while awaiting confirmation on Denzel Washington's attendance for the premiere.[12] The film will be released theatrically by A24 on August 22, 2025, before it is available to stream on Apple TV+ September 5, 2025.[6][13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Highest 2 Lowest". Writers Guild of America West. November 19, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Anthony, Florence (June 6, 2024). "Go With The Flo: Spike Lee, Beyonce and Jean Shafiroff". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ Emily, Olivia (October 16, 2024). "John Douglas Thompson On Returning To Othello". Country and Town House. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Gardner, Chris (May 4, 2024). "Spike Lee and Giancarlo Esposito Reunite for Fiat Campaign, Talk Denzel Washington, Megalopolis and AI". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lodderhose, Diana (December 9, 2024). "Spike Lee On Reuniting With Denzel Washington For Highest 2 Lowest With A$AP Rocky & Ice Spice — Red Sea Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Stephan, Katcy (February 8, 2024). "Denzel Washington and Spike Lee Reuniting to Remake Kurosawa's High and Low With A24 and Apple". Variety. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 18, 2024). "Ilfenesh Hadera Joins Denzel Washington In Spike Lee's High and Low For Apple, A24". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin; Grobar, Matt (March 19, 2024). "Jeffrey Wright Latest To Join Denzel Washington In Spike Lee's High And Low". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ Stephan, Katcy; Lang, Brent (April 10, 2024). "Ice Spice Set to Appear in Spike Lee's High and Low With Denzel Washington (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (March 3, 2024). "Oppenheimer: Hoyte Van Hoytema Wins Top Honors at American Society of Cinematographers Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ Klawans, Justin (June 3, 2024). "Filming Wraps on Spike Lee's 'High and Low' Remake Starring Denzel Washington". Collider. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (April 10, 2025). "Cannes Chief Thierry Fremaux Confirms Spike Lee's 'Highest 2 Lowest' Premiere With Denzel Washington, Explains Why Film Wasn't in Lineup Reveal: 'Wanted to Be Cautious'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ Coats, Lauren (May 5, 2025). "'Highest 2 Lowest' Trailer: Denzel Washington and Spike Lee Reunite in New York City Crime Thriller With A$AP Rocky". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Upcoming films
- 2025 films
- 2025 crime thriller films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks films
- A24 (company) films
- African-American drama films
- American crime thriller films
- American remakes of Japanese films
- Apple TV+ original films
- Escape Artists films
- Films based on adaptations
- Films based on novels by Evan Hunter
- Films based on works by Akira Kurosawa
- Films directed by Spike Lee
- Films shot in New York City
- Mandalay Pictures films
- Upcoming English-language films