News

Spike Lee has shared the first look at his latest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” with lead actor A$AP Rocky in a prison jumpsuit. The first-look image was posted just 24 hours after A$AP Rocky was found not guilty in a semiautomatic firearm case.

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, made his acting debut in 2015 coming-of-age film “Dope.” He went on to appear in “Zoolander 2” (2016) and in a short film with his romantic partner Rihanna. Now, the rapper is staking his claim in the indie-film game: A$AP Rocky stars in two A24 features out this year: Sundance hit “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest.”

In the film, A$AP Rocky stars as Yung Felon, the lead character in the reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low.” Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Ice Spice also star.

Spike Lee dug Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Lix halftime show, and he especially liked what he (and others) saw as an homage to his 2015 film “Chi-Raq.”

Lamar cast Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam in his 2025 halftime performance; the character served as a narrator for Lamar’s set during the most-watched Super Bowl in history. Jackson also played a narrator figure in Lee’s “Chi-Raq,” which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year.

While film critics quickly gleaned the apparent casting reference, Lee confirmed that he too understood Lamar’s vision to include a reference to his own filmography.

“I want to thank my brother Kendrick for the 40 Acres and a Mule shoutout, which has been the name of my production company since NYU Grad Film School,” Lee wrote on social media. “And I want to send a special shoutout to my Morehouse brother Samuel Jackson who started this Super...

Between “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game,” and “Inside Man,” Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have had more than enough opportunities to collaborate with one another, and yet it seems neither could let more time go by without doing at least one more project together.

The actor and auteur reunited for the first time in almost 20 years for the upcoming crime film “Highest 2 Lowest.” The project is inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which starred Toshiro Mifune as a wealthy Japanese businessman who gets caught in a game of cat-and-mouse with a sadistic kidnapper. The film shot last year in New York City and is expected to be released sometime in 2025. Speaking in a recent interview with The New York Times, Washington expressed his joy in getting to work with Lee again, though he didn’t feel much time had passed at all.

“It didn’t feel like 20 years,...

Jeffrey Wright credits his “Highest 2 Lowest” director Spike Lee for encouraging a career “high” of his own: making his directorial debut.

Wright told Men’s Health that Lee inspired him to direct his first project, which will be shot in 2026. It’s unclear whether the yet-to-be-announced project is a film or a series, but it will be Wright’s first time behind the camera regardless.

“Well, Spike would say to me, and a few other people I’ve worked with have said to me, ‘When are you going to direct?’” Wright said. “So that may be in the works. That is in the works, actually, for a project we’ll shoot in 2026. I’ll have to talk to you about that one later.”

Wright will draw from his past experiences with auteurs like Lee to make his own directorial debut.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with many...

Ever since Oscar season became a year-round affair catering both to industry professionals and movie buffs all over the world, there has been a tendency to pencil in certain contenders sight-unseen based on their previous awards success or showbiz prominence. If Steven Spielberg has a new film on the way, it's immediately a prohibitive favorite for at least a nomination. Meryl Streep in a drama about something timely or socially important? That's one Best Actress nod most likely spoken for.

It's always a mistake to think this way. This is something I learned in 2007, when, as a participant in an Oscar prognosticating poll, I predicted Academy Award nominations across the board for "Charlie Wilson's War." How could I not? A drama about the United States' involvement in Afghanistan directed by Mike Nichols (winner for "The Graduate") and starring Tom Hanks (winner for "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump"), Julia Roberts (winner for...

What does Spike Lee have up next after “Highest 2 Lowest,” his remake of Akira Kurosawa‘s “High And Low,” hits theaters this Spring? Deadline reports it might be another military dramedy in the style of his 2020 film “Da 5 Bloods.”

Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2025

Lee will develop “Liberty,” about a group of military cadet’s crazy night in NYC during Fleet Week, with writers Rebecca Murga and Jalysa Conway; he’ll produce the project, too, and possibly direct it.

Continue reading ‘Liberty’: Spike Lee To Develop Upcoming Military Dramedy, May Also Direct at The Playlist.

With the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires as a dramatic backdrop, A$AP Rocky’s criminal trial over charges he fired shots at his former friend A$AP Relli on a Hollywood, California, street three years ago remains on track to start next week.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold said jury selection will begin Tuesday. Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, was ordered to appear in person each day. Prosecutors said they planned to make a new plea-deal offer to Mayers before the expected 15-day trial gets underway.

Denzel Washington kissed a guy, and he’d have liked it to stay in “Gladiator II.”

Washington told Gayety in the below video that a kiss between his character Macrinus and another man was cut from the film because “they weren’t ready for that yet.” While Washington did not clarify who “they” were, the feature is directed by Ridley Scott and is being distributed by Paramount, also the film’s studio. Washington’s character Macrinus does reference having relationships with other men onscreen during the film, though.

“I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken,” Washington said. “I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later.”

He added, “It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.”

“Gladiator II” is...

Denzel Washington To Consider Retirement After Recent Projects? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Denzel Washington’s highly-anticipated Gladiator II is around the corner, and as excited as we are about the movie, the Hollywood icon is gearing up for a well-earned retirement. The celebrated actor known for his unforgettable roles in Malcolm X, Man on Fire, and The Equalizer series has confirmed that he’s stepping back from acting after treating audiences to a few final performances. At 69, he is set to star in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, followed by High and Low.

Denzel Washington On Retirement

During a recent interview with Today, Denzel Washington revealed his plans to retire from acting after completing a handful of new projects. He’s taking on a range of iconic Shakespearean roles and teaming up with visionary directors Steven McQueen and Ryan Coogler. His role in Black Panther 3 will mark one of his last appearances.

Denzel Washington is currently receiving all the praise from critics for his role as Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. The film has yet to hit the theaters but critics have given a positive verdict to the sequel of Russell Crowe’s Oscar-winning film. During the promotion of this movie, Washington hinted at one thing that has made his fans sad and excited at the same time.

Denzel Washington in a still from Gladiator II | Credits: Paramount Pictures

It appears that the actor has only a handful of films under his belt, after which he plans to say goodbye to his acting career. He shared that he was excited to play some iconic characters in these upcoming films, which has given fans a lot to be excited about.

Denzel Washington Hints At Retirement After A Handful Of Great Films Denzel Washington in a still from The Equalizer | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Denzel Washington,...

The “Girls” creator is turning a very controversial boy’s life story into a film.

Lena Dunham is set to bring the rise and fall of Ftx founder Sam Bankman-Fried to the screen for an upcoming Apple Original film in partnership with A24. Dunham will adapt the screenplay from Michael Lewis’ New York Times bestselling book, “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.”

Lewis’ past books “Moneyball” and “The Big Short” were also previously adapted to the screen. The official description of “Going Infinite” reads: “The book tells the story of Ftx’s spectacular collapse and the enigmatic founder at its center. When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this...

Apple and A24 are in early development on a film adaptation of the Michael Lewis book “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon” with Lena Dunham attached to write the script, Variety has learned exclusively.

Apple Studios and A24 are co-developing and co-producing the film. “Going Infinite” delves into the spectacular ascension and equally spectacular implosion of the cryptocurrency exchange and hedge fund Ftx as well as its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. The book was originally released in October 2023 and went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

The official description of the book reads:

“When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks,...

Denzel Washington could be gearing up to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new role in Black Panther 3 — though the storied actor is obviously doing it on his terms.

In a recent interview on Today (the Australian version, not the U.S. one), Washington said director Ryan Coogler was “writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.” He didn’t say anything more about the part, though, or the follow-up to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Rather, he dropped this nugget in a discussion of how he envisions his final act.

With a career spanning more than 40 years, nine Oscar nominations (a record for a Black actor) and a potential hit with Gladiator II, what else is left for Denzel Washington to accomplish on the big screen? As it turns out, maybe not so much after all, as the actor has indicated that he could possibly be nearing retirement as he nears 70.

Speaking with Empire as part of their new cover story for Gladiator II – in which he plays Macrinus, a broker who wants to take over Rome – Denzel Washington said that at this point in his career, he really needs to find a compelling project to even consider signing on. “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley…He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film.

Is Denzel Washington considering retirement? Maybe so. Yes, he’s got “Gladiator II” coming out this November, a Spike Lee-directed remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low” in the can, and an epic re-teaming with frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua on the horizon, but in a recent interview with Empire, the Academy Award-winning actor and occasional writer/director hinted that his career may be winding down, but it’s filmmakers like Ridley Scott that keep him interested.

“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” Washington said, referencing his experience on “Gladiator II.”

Washington shared that his previous experience working with Scott on “American Gangster” helped persuade him to take on the role of Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer in “Gladiator II” who “wants to be...

Election season is in the air and Turner Classic Movies is here to celebrate. Starting on September 6 and continuing every Friday up until this year’s general election, TCM will be running a nine-week limited series entitled “Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time.” This cinematic showcase is inspired by The New Republic rankings released in June 2023 and includes selections such as “All the King’s Men,” “Germany, Year Zero,” and “High and Low.”

To introduce the upcoming series, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz took to Washington D.C. for a trailer highlighting some of the films featured, as well as special guests like Stacey Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, and John Turturro.

“I grew up here in Washington D.C.,” Mankiewicz said, the Capitol Building behind him. “My father’s life was politics — capital P politics. Though I went in a different direction, I understood at an early age,...

In the run-up to Election Day, TCM is going after the movie lovers’ popular vote by showing 50 films over nine successive Fridays under the banner Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time.

The series runs Sept. 6 to Nov. 1 — four days before America votes for its next president — and features TCM host Ben Mankiewicz in conversation with the likes of Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Lee Grant, Sally Field, Andy Garcia, Melissa Etheridge, John Turturro, Bill Maher, Alexander Payne, Diane Lane, Josh Mankiewicz, Barry Levinson, Maureen Dowd, Stacey Abrams and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Watch the trailer here.

Making Change showcases half of the movies unveiled by The New Republic in the rankings it released in June 2023. The films on TCM span the years 1915 to 2016 (from D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation to Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro); the whole thing kicks off with the No.

Ice Spice capped off the release day for her new album Y2K! with a visit to The Tonight Show, where she both performed a medley and sat down for an interview with host Jimmy Fallon.

For the performance, the rapper delivered the one-two punch of the album’s “Did It First” and “Think U The Shit (Fart)”:

Prior to that, Ice Spice chatted with Fallon about a variety of topics — many of which she spoke about in our new cover story — including collaborating with Taylor Swift, going viral...

Spongebob Squarepants is many things to many people: a wildly popular cartoon character, an endlessly renewable source of memes, a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. To Ice Spice, he’s an icon of hard work and hustle. We’re sitting in a private room at a steakhouse in New York City’s Meatpacking District in mid-June, talking about the era that inspired her debut album, Y2K! (out tomorrow). “I think I learned a lot from that show,” Ice says. “He never wanted a day off,...

Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of Paramount+ With Showtime’s upcoming political thriller series “The Agency.”

As exclusively reported by Variety, the series is led by Michael Fassbender as Martian, a covert CIA agent. George Clooney serves as executive producer.

Wright will play Henry, the CIA’s director of operations overseeing non-official cover agents, and a mentor to Martian.

“The Agency” is based on the hit French series “The Bureau,” which ran on Canal+ from 2015 to 2020. Per the official loglline, the new series follows Martian as he’s “ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. His career, his real identity and his mission are pitted against his heart, hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.”

Wright was most recently seen leading the 2023 film “American Fiction” as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, and up next,...

Filming has wrapped on High and Low, a new collaboration between Denzel Washington and Spike Lee. The film is a remake of a 1963 thriller of the same name from director Akira Kurosawa. High and Low follows an executive at a shoe company who finds himself tangled up in an exortion scheme.

High and Low starring Denzel Washington has just wrapped filming, a new behind-the-scenes images confirms. Directed by Spike Lee, with whom Washington has now collaborated five times, High and Low serves as a remake of a 1963 Akira Kurosawa thriller of the same name. The original movie tells the story of a shoe company executive who contends with an attempt at extortion after his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Lee's remake started filming earlier this year, with Washington in the lead role.

Now, Lee posts a new photo on Instagram, confirming that filming has now been completed on High and Low.

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSThe Pill Pounder.The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival is known for audiences who talk back to the screen, but such rowdiness took a dark turn last weekend at a screening of Love Lies Bleeding (2024), during which homophobic and misogynistic taunts caused more than 60 attendees to walk out and then to stage a protest at the cinema door, which was broken up by the police.Italy’s right-wing government has left the country’s motion-picture industry stalled in uncertainty as they debate new regulations to tax incentives for film and television production, some of which may give preference to films “tied to Italy’s national identity.”Ten of thirteen IATSE locals now have tentative agreements with AMPTP. Talks...

One of Hollywood's most frustrating recent news stories is that Francis Ford Coppola is having trouble finding distribution for his self-funded passion project, "Megalopolis" (via The Hollywood Reporter). In a just world, making "The Godfather" would grant Coppola a lifetime blank check, but that has never been the world we've lived in.

What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."

Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...

Ice Spice debuts in Spike Lee's new film, mirroring Queen Latifah's start in Jungle Fever. Ice Spice's role in High and Low is undisclosed, but her potential in Hollywood is bright. Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright also star in the remake of High and Low.

Denzel Washington is starring in Spike Lee's High and Low, and one of the other actors in the movie is seemingly following in the footsteps of another star in Lee's Jungle Fever. Lee is directing High and Low, a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese crime film. Meanwhile, Washington is reportedly playing the protagonist and Hunger Games star Jeffery Wright has an undisclosed role. Most details surrounding the project are unknown, including the release date, but Ice Spice was announced as another star in the upcoming remake. So, High and Low's confirmed cast members are Washington, Wright, and Ice Spice.

The original...

Ice Spice will make her acting debut in 'High and Low'.The 'Barbie World' rapper is set to make a cameo appearance in Spike Lee's English-language adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller of the same name that will star Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera.A24 posted a photo to the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday (10.04.24) of Lee and Washington with the caption: "No. 5 now in production."'High and Low' marks the fifth collaboration between actor and filmmaker as they previously worked on the projects 'Inside Man', 'He Got Game', 'Malcolm X' and 'Mo' Better Blues'.The original 'High and Low' was loosely based on the 1959 novel 'King's Ransom', written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, and tells the story of a shoe company executive...

Ice Spice is branching out into acting with a part in Spike Lee’s forthcoming feature High and Low, which will reunite the filmmaker with Denzel Washington.

The rapper is set to appear in a cameo role that she has begun shooting for the project that is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller of the same name. Apple Original Films and A24 are behind Lee’s High and Low, which also stars Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera.

Ice Spice was nominated for four Grammys at this year’s ceremony, including best new artist. “Barbie World,” her song with Nicki Minaj, was featured on the Barbie soundtrack. Ice Spice has also had prominent collaborations with artists including Taylor Swift as she gears up to release her debut studio album, Y2K, later this year.

A24 posted a photo to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday of Lee and Washington, along with the caption,...

Ice Spice has joined the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming film High and Low, as Variety reports. The project will serve as the rapper’s acting debut.

Announced in February, Lee’s High and Low is an English-language remake of Akria Kurosawa’s 1963 original, which itself was a loose adaptation of Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom, and is set to star Denzel Washington and feature Jeffery Wright. The project marks the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, with 2006’s Inside Man being their most recent meeting. A24, Escape Artists, and Mandalay Pictures are developing and producing the project, while Lee and Alan Fox penned the script.

Though there is not yet a release date for the project, it has officially begun production. Once complete, A24 is set to distribute the film theatrically, followed by a global launch on AppleTV+, as Apple Original Films has partnered as a co-financier.

Ice Spice has joined the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming film High and Low, as Variety reports. The project will serve as the rapper’s acting debut.

Announced in February, Lee’s High and Low is an English-language remake of Akria Kurosawa’s 1963 original, which itself was a loose adaptation of Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom, and is set to star Denzel Washington and feature Jeffery Wright. The project marks the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, with 2006’s Inside Man being their most recent meeting. A24, Escape Artists, and Mandalay Pictures are developing and producing the project, while Lee and Alan Fox penned the script.

Though there is not yet a release date for the project, it has officially begun production. Once complete, A24 is set to distribute the film theatrically, followed by a global launch on AppleTV+, as Apple Original Films has partnered as a co-financier.

The great philosopher Ice Spice once said: “How can I lose if I’m already chose?” The Bronx rapper’s affirmations have manifested into the kind of big screen acting debut that young actors often dream of. According to Variety, Ice Spice will act alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s forthcoming film High and Low, produced and developed by A24.

Currently in production, High and Low reinterprets Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller of the same name from 1963. The film is set for a theatrical release before entering the streaming...

Ice Spice is headed to the big screen!

The 24-year-old rapper has just been announced to join the cast of Spike Lee‘s upcoming movie High and Low, Variety reveals.

This will mark Ice Spice‘s first film role, and marks her acting debut!

Keep reading to find out more…

According to Variety, she has already started filming on the project, which stars Denzel Washington.

High and Low is an English-language reinterpretation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa‘s 1963 crime thriller of the same name.

Apple Original Films and A24 are joining forces on the project, and it will debut in theaters before debuting on Apple TV+.

Ice Spice will also be heading to the desert this month, as she is performing on Saturday, April 13th and Saturday, April 20th at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Check out the just announced set times here!

Ice Spice is set to appear in Spike Lee’s upcoming English-language reinterpretation of the Akira Kurosawa crime thriller “High and Low.”

“High and Low” will mark Ice Spice’s acting debut, and she’s already begun shooting for the project starring Denzel Washington.

The rapper skyrocketed to fame following the release of her breakthrough single, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and subsequent collaborations with Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. She was nominated for four Grammys this year, including best rap song and best new artist. Ice Spice’s first studio album, “Y2K,” is due out this year.

The project is the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, and their first since 2006’s “Inside Man.” Apple Original Films and A24 are partnering on the project, which will be released theatrically by A24 before a global launch on AppleTV+.

Apple Original Films tweeted a photo of Washington and Lee on Wednesday...

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are collaborting on High and Low, their fifth team up. High and Low is an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film of the same name about an executive whose son is kidnapped. A24 will handle theatrical distribution for the movie before it eventually goes to Apple TV Plus.

High and Low, the fifth collaboration between Denzel Washington and Spike Lee, has officially started filming. Released in 1963, High and Low is directed by Akira Kurosawa, telling the story of an executive at a shoe company whos son is taken hostage and held for ransom. The Lee remake was confirmed earlier this year, with A24 handling distribution before the film then lands on Apple TV Plus.

A24 now shares a new post on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming that filming on High and Low has now officially started.

No. 5 now in production pic.twitter.com/HtrGw...

From the success of "American Fiction," Jeffrey Wright's new movie with Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's remake is highly anticipated. "High and Low" features a different tone from "American Fiction," with a focus on moral dilemmas and commentary on greed. The upcoming collaboration between Wright, Washington, and Lee in "High and Low" promises to deliver powerful performances and compelling storytelling.

Jeffrey Wright's upcoming movie just got far more exciting after the critical and commercial success of 2023's American Fiction. With American Fiction now available on VOD, an even broader audience will have exposure to Wright's brilliant performance in filmmaker Cord Jefferson's feature-length debut. Although American Fiction is one of Jeffrey Wright's best movies, the actor is one of the strongest examples of an artist who's fully committed to his craft. As such, Wright's already started filming for his upcoming movie, which is demonstrative of the actor strategically...

Simone Ashley (Bridgerton) and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After) are set to lead the romantic comedy ‘Picture This’.

Further cast includes Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso), Nikesh Patel (London Has Fallen), Adil Ray (Citizen Khan), Sindhu Vee (Matilda: The Musical), Anoushka Chadha (You), Kulvinder Ghir (Bend It Like Beckham) and Luke Fetherston (Still Up).

The story centres on Pia (Simone Ashley), single and without a man on the horizon, she runs a failing photography studio in London with her best friend Jay (Luke Fetherston). As her sister Sonal (Anoushka Chadha) prepares to get married and her mother Laxmi (Sindhu Vee) urges the resolutely independent Pia to partner up, a spiritual guru at Sonal’s engagement party predicts Pia will meet the love of her life among the next five dates she goes on. As her family intervene, setting her up on a series of increasingly desperate blind dates, Pia begins a hilarious...

Jeffrey Wright has joined Denzel Washington on the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming feature ‘High and Low’.

Apple Original Films and A24 are partnering on the movie which chronicles the ruin of a businessman following a ransom payment to kidnappers.

Todd Black, known for producing ‘Emancipation’ and ‘The Equalizer’ films, will produce a new feature for Escape Artists along with Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures, who has previously worked on ‘Air’ and ‘Nine Days’. Spike Lee will also direct the film and serve as executive producer through his production company 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Peter Guber of Mandalay Pictures will be another executive producer, along with Matthew Lindner, Chris Brigham, and Katia Washington of Juniper Productions. Jordan Moldo of Mandalay Pictures will be the co-producer.

Also in news – Andre Holland features in first look for AppleTV+ series ‘The Big Cigar’

The movie, which will be released...

Jeffrey Wright is to star in 'High and Low'.The 58-year-old actor is set to join Spike Lee's English-language adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller of the same name alongside Denzel Washington and Ilfenesh Hadera.The original 'High and Low' was loosely based on the 1959 novel 'King's Ransom', written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, and tells the story of a shoe company executive who falls victim to extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped and held for ransom. It is not yet clear if Lee's movie will follow the original storyline, while details about Jeffrey's role have not been revealed.Production on the flick is set to begin this month with Lee writing the screenplay with Alan Fox.Wright was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role as frustrated writer and professor Dr. Thelonious 'Monk'...

Jeffrey Wright joins Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's remake of the classic Japanese thriller High and Low. Wright, known for his role in The Hunger Games and his film American Fiction, adds talent to role, which is unclear at this time. Details of the film are scarce but expectations are high due to Wright's involvement, Lee's direction, and it being an adaptation of a classic Japanese movie.

A new casting update for High and Low reveals a star from The Hunger Games will be joining the cast of Spike Lee's remake of the classic Japanese thriller. The original 1963 film was directed by Akira Kurosawa, itself loosely based on the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Evan Hunter. Lee's new take on the movie will star Denzel Washington, with little else known about what to expect from the film.

Now, Deadline has confirmed Jeffrey Wright will be joining the cast of Washington...

Fresh from his Oscar-nominated role in “American Fiction,” Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of “High and Low.” The re-imagining of the Akira Kurosawa classic thriller is being directed by Spike Lee and will star Denzel Washington. Lee wrote the script with Alan Fox for the English-language adaptation of the story of a wealthy man dealing with a kidnapping. Production on the Apple Original Films starts this month.

In addition to Washington, “High and Low” also stars Ilfenesh Hadera (“Billions”). A24 will release the film theatrically before its global launch on Apple TV+.

The feature will be produced by Todd Black, who worked with Washington on “The Equalizer” films, for Escape Artists and Jason Michael Berman (“Air”) for Mandalay Pictures. In addition to directing, Lee will serve as executive producer through his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Mandalay’s Peter Guber will serve as executive producer, along with Juniper Productions’ Matthew Lindner,...

Fresh off his Oscar nomination for best actor, Jeffrey Wright has set his next film.

Apple Original Films and A24 announced Tuesday that Wright is joining Denzel Washington in director Spike Lee’s next film, High and Low. A24 will give the film a theatrical release before its global launch of Apple TV+. A release date has yet be announced.

The thriller, which starts production this month, is the English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low. The 1963 Japanese movie told of a shoe executive that was in the middle of a complex corporate takeover when his plans are derailed by the accidental kidnapping and ransom of his chauffeur’s son, instead of his own son.

The movie adaption was developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, and written by Alan Fox and Lee.

High and Low marks the second collaboration between Apple Original...

Hot on the heels of his first Academy Award nomination for his lead role in American Fiction, Jeffrey Wright has been set to join Denzel Washington and Ilfenesh Hadera in Spike Lee’s High and Low, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, for Apple and A24.

Details as to his role are under wraps.

Loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom, written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, the original High and Low follows a shoe company executive who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. It’s unclear how closely Lee’s film will hew to the original storyline.

Developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, High and Low is written by Alan Fox and Lee. Todd Black and Jason Michael Berman are producing for Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures,...

Exclusive: Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem) has been tapped to star opposite Denzel Washington in Apple and A24’s High and Low, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, from filmmaker Spike Lee.

She comes to the project following collaborations with Lee on his acclaimed Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It, based on his classic 1986 film, as well as his movies Chi-Raq and Oldboy.

Loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom, written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, the original High and Low watches as a shoe company executive becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. It’s unclear how closely Lee’s film will hew to the original storyline, and there’s no word yet as to the role Hadera will play.

Developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, Lee...

The one thing that Academy Award haters and lovers can agree on is the long and fascinating history of Oscar snubs. It’s the “Predator handshake” topic that brings us all together. It happens every year: the wrong movie wins a certain award or fails to secure the nomination it deserves. Some would say it’s a big part of the awards show experience.

Every now and then, though, the Academy Awards go above and beyond by implementing a “blanket snub.” It’s one thing for a great movie or actor to not get the win or nomination they’ve earned in the eyes of theater audiences. It’s quite another to realize that there have been numerous all-time great films throughout history that didn’t even get a single Oscar nomination, much less an Oscar win.

But let’s go one step further than that. We’re not going...

Hoyte Van Hoytema has taken top honors at the 38th annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards for his work on “Oppenheimer.”

Van Hoytema topped a field that included Edward Lachman for “El Conde, Matthew Libatique for “Maestro,” Rodrigo Prieto for “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Robbie Ryan for “Poor Things.”

The awards were handed out Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with Ed Helms hosting the festivities.

All five theatrical feature film nominees are also nominated for best cinematography at the Oscars.

In its 38-year history, only 17 have gone on to win the Oscar. Last year, Mandy Walker made history when she became the first woman to win an ASC award for her work on “Elvis.” The Academy Award ultimately went to James Friend for “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

On the TV side, winners included Carl Herse for “Barry” and Ben Kutchins for “Boston Strangler.”

Van...

Kevin Macdonald’s High & Low: John Galliano is another hagiography in an increasingly long list of public relations exercises masquerading as substantial fashion profiles. Except this documentary is a more perverse exercise in self-celebration than its predecessors, as it shamelessly announces from the very start that it’s an attempt at atonement for disgraced designer John Galliano, who was widely condemned in 2011 for racist and antisemitic rants.

High & Low opens with the case that triggered Galliano’s public downfall, all but promising that it will confront his demons head on and leave no stone unturned. Instead, it enlists Galliano’s high-profile friends and former colleagues—among them Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Penélope Cruz, Charlize Theron, and, of course, Anna Wintour—to make the case that it wasn’t really “John” talking at the Paris café La Perle when he used expressions such as “fucking ugly Jewish bitch...

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are reuniting for a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. The rise of Denzel Washington's son, John David Washington, in Hollywood makes him a likely addition to the cast of Lee's new movie. The success of BlacKkKlansman also makes a potential collaboration between Spike Lee, Denzel Washington, and John David Washington in High and Low more likely.

Denzel Washington’s upcoming movie reunion with Spike Lee in High and Low's remake can pay off a casting wish first teased back in 1992. In their first acting-directing collaboration since Inside Man 18 years ago, Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are set to reunite for the fifth time in the forthcoming English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese crime thriller High and Low. Washington is confirmed to star in the new High and Low movie while Lee will return to the director’s chair, following in...

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are teaming up for a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low - their sixth collaboration. The missed opportunity for Denzel Washington to star in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods has led to their reunion in the upcoming film. Despite a decade passing since their last project together, the anticipation for High and Low is high as it marks their long-awaited return.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have found a new movie to make together in High and Low, and it makes up for a missed opportunity from four years ago. The actor and filmmaker have a storied partnership that spans decades, and it is now officially set to continue with a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. The film marks the sixth collaboration between Denzel and Spike, although it is their first since 2006. The plan is for the High and Low remake...

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the first time in 15 years to remake Akira Kurosawa's thriller "High and Low." This project is a chance for the duo to explore new storytelling territories and break new ground in their successful partnership. The upcoming High and Low remake poses a major risk for Denzel and Spike as they strive to live up to the high standard set by Kurosawa.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are set to do something they've never done before with their upcoming High and Low remake. The actor and director have had a long-lasting partnership over the last 34 years that has brought them incredible success. Although they have not made a movie together since 2006's Inside Man, the duo has finally reunited for the challenge of remaking Akira Kurosawa's thriller High and Low. Spike Lee will direct the new take on the original 1963 movie with Denzel...

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are reuniting to adapt a Japanese thriller, marking their fifth collaboration. "High and Low" will be based on Akira Kurosawa's work. Set to debut in theaters before streaming, the new film must capture the complex themes of the original.

Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, and Alan Fox are teaming up to remake Akira Kurosawa's High and Low, giving Washington a new opportunity to adapt a film by the legendary director. Washington's first endeavor to adapt a Kurosawa film came in the form of 2016's The Magnificent Seven, a remake of the 1960 classic western starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, which is itself a remake of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.

High and Low is also a remake, insofar as being a loose adaptation of the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Ed McBain. The Washington-Lee version will be their first team-up since 2006's Inside Man. Washington and Lee's previous...

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's previous collaborations have been highly acclaimed, but their new project, a remake of "High and Low," already faces a major issue. Lee's previous attempt at remaking a classic Asian film, "Oldboy," was a critical and commercial failure, which raises concerns about their upcoming film. The differences in storytelling sensibilities between Western and Eastern filmmakers make American remakes of Asian movies often fall short in capturing the essence of the original.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's collaborations have resulted in the production of some of the best movies that cinema has ever seen, but their next team-up, High and Low, already has one big issue. While the news of Lee and Washington's High and Low remake of Akira Kurosawa's classic 1963 film is exciting, it already faces a major issue, as evidenced by an oft-forgotten project of the auteur director from 2013. Known primarily for his...

National Geographic’s new female-led docuseries Queens premieres March 4th on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu the next day.

“Helmed by a female-led production team from around the world — groundbreaking in the natural history space — and guided by powerful narration from award-winning actress Angela Bassett, Queens is bringing the natural world into focus through the female lens for the very first time.”

Did you catch the magnificent trailer for FX’s Shogun during the Super Bowl? It was a daunting task to remake the classic miniseries, and it almost didn’t happen.

“It wasn’t just the length; it was the subject matter, or Marks’ impression of it, from the book’s reputation and from its famed 1980 miniseries adaptation: his notion of a story about a white European arriving in a strange land. ‘The silhouette of a character who kind of looks like me, wearing clothes...