Frequent collaborators Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are teaming up once again to adapt a classic film by renowned Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Apple announced on Thursday, Feb. 8, that they will be working on the crime thriller “High and Low,” marking their fifth collaboration together.
Production for “High and Low” is set to begin in March, with A24 handling theatrical distribution before the film streams globally on Apple TV+. The original “High and Low,” released in 1963, centered around a wealthy businessman who mistakenly believes his son has been kidnapped, only to discover that it’s his chauffeur’s son who has actually been taken.
Kurosawa, celebrated as one of cinema’s greatest auteurs, directed iconic films like “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai.” His work continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide, with “High and Low” serving as the latest in a line of adaptations of his timeless stories.
While details about the setting of the new adaptation were not provided by Apple, the English-language reinterpretation of “High and Low” will be co-written by Spike Lee. Lee, known for his groundbreaking films like “Do the Right Thing” and “BlacKkKlansman,” recently received an honorary Oscar for his contributions to cinema.
Denzel Washington, who has two Oscars to his name, for “Glory” and “Training Day,” has collaborated with Lee on several successful projects, including “Malcolm X.” Their partnership has produced memorable films such as “Mo’ Better Blues,” “He Got Game,” and “Inside Man.”
Fans of both Washington and Lee eagerly anticipate their reunion and the reimagining of Kurosawa’s classic tale for contemporary audiences.
