Spike Lee and Denzel Washington are collaborating for the fifth instance, revamping Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller High and Low.
The duo, known for their work on Malcolm X and He Got Game, will begin production on a new version in March. Adapted from the book King’s Ransom by Ed McBain, the original movie features Toshiro Mifune as a wealthy man who falls into financial ruin after paying a ransom for a kidnapping.
In 2008, it was announced that Martin Scorsese and David Mamet were planning to collaborate on a remake of the story, but this never materialized. Steven Soderbergh’s 2023 miniseries, Full Circle, was also inspired by the story.
Lee has previously expressed his respect for Kurosawa, stating that his 1986 film She’s Gotta Have It was influenced by Rashomon. When questioned about his own longevity in the industry last year, Lee remarked, “Kurosawa was 86! I at least have to reach that age.”
Kurosawa’s art has been reinterpreted on various occasions, most recently in 2022 with the release of Living, a fresh adaptation of Ikiru featuring Bill Nighy, who was nominated for an Oscar.
The new version of the film will first be shown in theaters by A24 before being made available on Apple TV+. This follows a similar pattern to The Tragedy of Macbeth, which earned Washington an Oscar nomination for best actor.
Alan Fox, a playwright who was previously a college basketball player and model, will write the script. Fox also had a role in Taylor Swift’s music video for Fifteen. His script, titled Queens of the Stoned Age, follows a model who transitions into a marijuana dealer. It has been acquired by Sony and Dakota Johnson is attached to star.
Actor Denzel Washington was recently featured in the film The Equalizer 3, which earned a whopping $191 million across the globe. Fans can also look forward to seeing him team up with Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2, directed by Ridley Scott.
In 2020, Lee directed Da 5 Bloods, his most recent film. Prior to this, he worked with Washington in the 2006 suspenseful movie Inside Man.
Source: theguardian.com
