Lee & Washington Reunite for Kurosawa Remake: 'High and Low' Gets American Treatment

Courtesy Photo: Universal Pictures 

Acclaimed director Spike Lee and iconic actor Denzel Washington are once again joining forces, this time to remake Akira Kurosawa's classic 1963 crime thriller "High and Low," Apple Original Films announced on Thursday.

Apple will co-finance the project, which will be theatrically released by independent film studio A24 before streaming on Apple TV+. This marks Lee and Washington's fifth collaboration, following their critically acclaimed work on films such as "Mo' Better Blues," "Malcolm X," "He Got Game" and "Inside Man" (2006).

The fifth Denzel and Spike joint.
High and Low, a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's classic.

Filming starts in March.

— Apple Original Films (@AppleFilms) February 8, 2024

Kurosawa's "High and Low" is a suspenseful crime thriller with social commentary woven into its narrative. Based on Ed McBain's novel "King's Ransom," the film follows a wealthy industrialist whose life is thrown into chaos when his chauffeur's son is mistakenly kidnapped for ransom. As the tension mounts, Kurosawa explores themes of class disparity and human resilience.

Neat-o: It's a Spike Lee-Denzel Washington reunion as the duo, which haven't worked since 2006's INSIDE MAN, team up to make an English-language adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller HIGH AND LOW.https://t.co/CMBJP4yu1l

— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) February 8, 2024

Lee, known for his bold storytelling and unflinching social commentary, has directed numerous critically acclaimed films throughout his career. His diverse body of work includes groundbreaking titles like "Do the Right Thing" and the Denzel Washington-led biopic "Malcolm X."

Washington will once again take the lead in Lee's adaptation, which features a screenplay co-written by Lee and Alan Fox. Washington and producer Todd Black have previously collaborated on films like "Fences," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "The Equalizer" franchise. Production is set to begin in March.

A24, a film studio known for its independent and acclaimed productions, will handle the theatrical distribution of the film before its global debut on Apple TV+. "High and Low" is being developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures. Black and Jason Michael Berman are producing, with Lee serving as executive producer through his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Peter Guber, along with others, will also serve as executive producer.

Watch: Super Bowl Trailer Has Ludacris, Lil Jon Hunting for Usher in Vegas

Usher has dropped a star-studded new trailer for his Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, igniting intrigue with a playful "Where's Usher?" theme. The seven-minute film, reminiscent of "The Hangover," follows a comedic quest through Las Vegas, led by Ludacris, Lil Jon and Taraji P. Henson as they search for the missing R&B icon.

Their journey takes them past iconic landmarks like Caesars Palace, where they encounter celebrities including Anderson .Paak, J Balvin, Wesley Snipes and the Blue Man Group. A surprise appearance by Andre 3000 as "Zoltar 3000" fuels speculation about potential collaborations during the live performance.

The trailer concludes with Usher performing for a bridal party at the Caesars Palace Fountain, showcasing his signature moves and hits like "Climax," "Nice & Slow" and "Bad Girl." The clip ends with Snipes comedically channeling Omarion's iconic dance moves to "Standing Next to You."

Usher's halftime show promises to be a monumental celebration of his 30-year career. With over 80 million records sold and hits like "8701" and "Confessions," his impact on the music industry is significant.

Anticipation is further heightened by the release of his ninth studio album, "Coming Home," two days before the Super Bowl. Presented by Apple Music as part of a multi-year partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation, the halftime show is expected to be a major draw for music fans worldwide. Super Bowl LVIII airs live on CBS February 11th.

Watch the trailer below.

Drake at Center of Online Storm as Explicit Video Sparks Speculation

Speculation continues to swirl online as an explicit video featuring a well-endowed man, captured in a reflective moment before a mirror, sparks viral attention. Many are conjecturing that the figure in the clip could be rap superstar Drake.

On Tuesday, an account named @Campusnightchat on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared footage of a light-skinned man recording himself, sitting in a suggestive pose, holding his penis while his face remains obscured by a cellphone. The video has since been deleted.

Drake responds to Adin Ross after he left a voice message about his leaked video... 💀 pic.twitter.com/M9nH9xYzDa

— Liutauras (@Liutauras_) February 6, 2024

The identity of the individual remains unconfirmed, partly due to the obscured face, but the possibility of Drake's involvement has ignited social media. Online personality Adin Ross recently addressed the viral footage during a livestream, playfully acknowledging its potential significance.

"God damn. You’re blessed with your voice. You’re blessed with performing. You’re blessed to be you, you’re blessed to be number one. But you’re also blessed to have a fucking missile!" exclaimed Ross, reflecting on the video's content.

Here’s Drake New leak Video #drakevideo pic.twitter.com/lcbaHEq8wU

— Vishwajit Patil (@_VishwajitPatil) February 7, 2024

Known for his past interactions with Drake, Ross shared snippets of a text exchange with the artist, revealing Drake's apparent nonchalant response to the commotion. "He just texted me, he put like eight laughing emojis," Ross disclosed, providing insight into Drake's reaction.

Adding to the intrigue, Ross suggested that Drake humorously hinted at incorporating the incident into his artistic endeavors. "He said, ‘This might be my next album intro,'" Ross read aloud, indicating Drake's playful disposition towards the situation.

While the video's authenticity remains in question, speculation mounts that the ambient sounds in the background hint at the scene unfolding aboard Drake's private jet, further fueling speculation.

The footage sparked widespread discussion on social media. Notably, plastic surgeon and internet personality Michael “Dr. Miami” Salzhauer received numerous inquiries about male-centered cosmetic procedures.

Yes, Penis Enlargement surgery exists.

— Dr. Miami (@TheRealDrMiami) February 6, 2024

“Yes, penis enlargement surgery exists,” Dr. Miami posted on X. Later, he clarified, “It’s not called a DDL but everyone kept tagging me for some reason so I answered did not know what was going on [loudly crying face emoji].”

Dr. Miami emphasized that his response, as a medical professional, was not intended to be “shady” toward anyone. However, many commenters assumed Drake inspired his tweet.

Did drake and dr Miami used to date? Why dr Miami hate him so much

— NZA (@Deplatformnaya) February 7, 2024