Denzel Washington and Spike Lee Re-Team For New Movie

Denzel Washington to Star in ‘High and Low’ For Director Spike Lee

The movie is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller and marks just the latest collaboration between Washington and Lee.

(L to R) Denzel Washington and Spike Lee in 'Malcolm X.' Photo: Warner Bros.

Preview:

Denzel Washington will star in ‘High and low’.
Spike Lee is directing the new movie.
The film will remake a 1960s Akira Kurosawa crime thriller.

The idea of Denzel Washington and director Spike Lee teaming back up to work on a new movie together is certainly one to anticipate given their past collaborations.

Good news, then, for fans of the shared Spike/Denzel joints, as that’s exactly what is happening. Possibly more controversial (at least to those who worry about such things) is the fact that it’ll be a remake of no less a director’s work than Akira Kurosawa.

‘High and Low’ will be a new take on the 1963 crime thriller which starred Toshirô Mifune (another instance of a much-admired director/star combo).

It’s not the first time Washington has led a remake –– ‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ springs to mind –– but with Lee directing, we’re confident it’ll be something interesting and fresh.

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English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller 'High and Low.' Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘High and Low’?

Director Akira Kurosawa's 'High and Low.' Photo: Kurosawa Films.

Kurosawa’s film is loosely based on the 1959 novel ‘King’s Ransom’ by Ed McBain (a pseudonym for Evan Hunter).

It follows the story of a board member for a Japanese company who is forced to choose between using a vast amount of wealth to gain executive control and helping his chauffeur by lending him the money to free his child from kidnappers.

Lee is writing the script for the new movie with Alan Fox, but don’t yet know whether this will be a direct remake of the original or what will be changed. Given that it’s Lee, we can imagine he’ll be adding his own themes and ideas to the story.

What have Spike Lee and Denzel Washington collaborated on before?

Actor Wesley Snipes, Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel Jackson and Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and present the Oscar to Honorary Award recipient Spike Lee at the 2015 Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015.

(L to R) Actor Wesley Snipes, Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel Jackson and Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and present the Oscar to Honorary Award recipient Spike Lee at the 2015 Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

‘High and Low’ will mark the fifth time the two Oscar winners have worked together, most recently on 2006’s ‘Inside Man’, along with ‘Malcolm X’ (for which Washington was nominated for an Oscar), ‘He Got Game’ and ‘Mo’ Better Blues’.

According to Deadline, this is a project they’ve wanted to work together on for a while now, but when the actors’ strike shifted schedules for various movies (including ‘Gladiator 2’, which Washington is starring in), that meant a delay from a planned 2023 shoot. With his duties on the ‘Gladiator’ sequel now complete, the actor is available, and Lee is planning to start shooting ‘High and Low’ in March.

When will ‘High and Low’ be in theaters?

While Apple and A24 are backing the new movie, it doesn’t yet have a set release date. There’s a chance Lee could have it ready for awards season, but we’d guess it’s more likely to be a 2025 entry. And the plan is for A24 to have it in theaters before it lands on Apple’s servers.

Oscar® nominee Spike Lee arrives on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Kyusung Gong / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.