Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, a duo synonymous with cinematic excellence, have reunited for ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece ‘High and Low.’ The first teaser trailer offers a glimpse into this A24 and Apple TV+ thriller, set to premiere in theaters August 22 and on Apple TV+ September 5.
The trailer introduces Washington as a music industry titan, a man whose “ears are the best in the business,” navigating a moral quagmire triggered by a botched kidnapping plot. His voiceover breaks down the film’s central tension: “There’s more to life than just making money. There’s integrity, there’s what you stand for.” Flashes of New York City—electric-blue skylines, frenetic subway chases, and courthouse standoffs—pulse with Lee’s signature visual flair, courtesy of cinematographer Matthew Libatique. The teaser’s animated Brooklyn Bridge shots and rapid cuts hint at a story teetering between opulence and chaos, with Washington’s character caught in a high-stakes ransom scheme that tests his principles.
Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and ASAP Rocky on the set of ‘Highest 2 Lowest’
Adapted from Kurosawa’s High and Low—itself based on Ed McBain’s King’s Ransom— ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ trades the original’s corporate shoe empire for the cutthroat world of music. Filmed in New York City last year, the film, scripted by William Alan Fox and reworked by Lee, channels the city’s raw energy.
The cast is stacked with talent, including Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, and John Douglas Thompson. Adding a contemporary edge, A$AP Rocky plays Washington’s onscreen son, Yung Felon, while Ice Spice makes her acting debut. Lee, speaking on Carmelo Anthony’s ‘7pm in Brooklyn’ podcast, praised Rocky’s fearless performance, noting scenes where he holds his own against Washington’s towering presence.
This marks Lee and Washington’s fifth collaboration, following iconic films like ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Inside Man.’ Watch the new trailer below.
Thursday, Nov. 20 – ‘Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The late actor’s wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, accepted the honor on his behalf.
Boseman, best known for his roles as King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther,’ Jackie Robinson in ’42,’ and James Brown in ‘Get On Up,’ died in 2020 at the age of 43 after a private battle with cancer. The news of his passing was sudden and came as a shock to many, including Boseman’s collaborators and close friends, who revealed they did not know of his illness.
Ryan Coogler, who directed Boseman in “Black Panther,” and Davis, who co-starred opposite him in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” spoke at the ceremony. Both spoke candidly of who Chadwick was as a human, an actor, and a friend.
Boseman’s co-stars Letitia Wright and Michael B. Jordan also attended the ceremony, as well as Chadwick’s brothers, Kevin and Derrick.
See photos from the star unveiling ceremony below.
Letitia Wright, Simone Ledward-Boseman, Michael B. Jordan
Chadwick Boseman’s star
Viola Davis, Kevin and Derrick Boseman, Simone Ledward-Boseman
Letitia Wright, Simone Ledward-Boseman, Michael B. Jordan
Ryan Coogler
Viola Davis
Kevin and Derrick Boseman, Simone Ledward-Boseman
Simone Ledward-Boseman & Chadwick Boseman’s star
Chadwick Boseman’s star
Kevin and Derrick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman’s star
Chadwick Boseman’s star
For those who wish to visit and pay their respects, the star is located at 6904 Hollywood Blvd., across from the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Peacock’s new docuseries “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off,” which will premiere on Thursday, November 13, follows Emmy Award-winning comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip,Haunted Mansion) as she journeys to Africa on a four-week-long girls trip with her three closest childhood friends: Selena Martin, Shermona Long, and Sparkle Clark.
On the trip, Tiffany and her friends travel to multiple locations across Africa: Cape Town, South Africa; Victoria Falls and Harare, Zimbabwe; and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The six-episode docuseries is produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, in association with 3BMG, Will Packer Media, Glass Slipper Pictures, Haddish’s She Ready Productions, and 1oneninety5.
All episodes of the series will be available at once, exclusively on Peacock.
Three Los Angeles-based screenwriters, Tyrone Perry, Shon Oku, and Joshua Isaacson, filed a lawsuit on July 30, 2025, alleging that Issa Rae-produced “One of Them Days” copied their original screenplay titled “One of Those Days.” The lawsuit claims copyright infringement, idea theft, and conversion.
Specifically, the writers allege that there are 29 similarities in character arcs, plot structure, and overall tone between the film and their script. They shared their script with producer Xavier Charles, who had previously worked with Issa Rae on her HBO series, “Insecure.” After Charles declined to produce their project, Rae’s company announced “One of Them Days” shortly thereafter. The lawsuit claims this proximity in timing, coupled with Charles’s connection to Rae, points to unauthorized use of their material.
The released buddy comedy film, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, centers on best friends and roommates Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA), who find themselves in a chaotic race against the clock to avoid eviction.
The central conflict arises when Alyssa’s boyfriend blows their rent money on a bad investment. Faced with the threat of being evicted from their Los Angeles apartment, the duo goes to extreme lengths to find the necessary funds before their landlord’s deadline. The film is filled with comical situations and highlights the strength and quirks of their friendship as they navigate the challenges of their “one of those days” scenario.
To support their claims, the writers hired veteran screenwriter John Brancato, who reviewed both scripts and concluded that the similarities were “substantial”.
The lawsuit names Issa Rae’s company ColorCreative, Sony Pictures, TriStar, and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton. It seeks a jury trial, damages, and attorney’s fees. Representatives for Rae and Sony have not yet commented publicly on the allegations.