Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Reunite in New Teaser for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

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.

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.