A24 has released the first trailer for Highest 2 Lowest, a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, directed by Spike Lee. The film stars Denzel Washington as a powerful music mogul whose life is upended when a ransom plot unfolds, led by A$AP Rocky’s character.
Highest 2 Lowest is set to hit theaters on August 15, with a streaming release on Apple TV+ scheduled for September 5.
Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee recently sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to promote his upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest, set to hit theaters August 22. While there, he gave major props to both A$AP Rocky and Denzel Washington, who star opposite each other in the crime thriller.
“Don’t sleep on A$AP,” Lee said during the interview. “In this film, Denzel and A$AP go toe-to-toe.” He added that Rocky not only held his own alongside the Oscar-winning Washington, but also brought an extra layer of authenticity to their dynamic. “Even before I got involved, I always thought A$AP looked like he could be Denzel’s son. There’s a real resemblance. Seeing them together on screen really adds to that father-son energy.”
Lee, who’s directed Washington in five previous films, admitted that many actors find it challenging to share the screen with someone of Denzel’s caliber. “People get overwhelmed. He’s one of the greatest living actors. But A$AP wasn’t fazed. They went at it, for real.”
Highest 2 Lowest is a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic noir High and Low, set in New York City. Washington plays the head of an influential record label, Stackin Hits. In contrast, Rocky plays his son, Yung Felony, an up-and-coming rapper whose choices set off a gripping narrative about power, family, and ambition.
The film, backed by A24 and Apple, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May to critical acclaim and currently holds an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes. After its limited theatrical run, it will hit Apple TV+ on September 5.