A Highest 2 Lowest star “did not even know” his son was auditioning with Denzel Washington, and sure, he obtained the half. Directed by Spike Lee, the upcoming movie is a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s Excessive and Low (1963) and stars Washington as a strong music mogul who turns into the goal of a ransom scheme and is pressured to make an not possible ethical alternative.
Along with Denzel Washington within the lead function, the solid additionally consists of Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, ASAP Rocky, Ice Spice, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, LaChanze, Aubrey Joseph, Michael Potts, Wendell Pierce, and Elijah Wright. Showing as themselves are Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez.
In an interview with ScreenRant, Highest 2 Lowest star Jeffrey Wright shared the story of how his son, Elijah Wright, additionally landed a task within the film. Initially up for one more function, his son’s audition tape impressed Spike Lee, resulting in an sudden audition with Washington.
Jeffrey Wright discovered about it simply days earlier than, and Washington referred to as him afterward, jokingly pretending his son did not get the function, earlier than revealing he had. Elijah Wright earned the half enjoying his father’s on-screen son and, as soon as filming started, impressed everybody along with his efficiency. Learn their full feedback under:
Jeffrey Wright: I used to be very pleased with him. Very pleased with him. This is not his first movie. His first movie was when he was eight years outdated. He might barely maintain a digicam and he was directing movies. I needed to audition for him. I obtained a component.
Denzel Washington: (laughs) I used to be going to say, did you get a component?
Jeffrey Wright: I did fairly properly, however no, he is been interested in movie and performing and music for a very long time and so to get a chance-
Denzel Washington: Did he examine? Did he, has he studied?
Jeffrey Wright: He is learning, he is nonetheless learning. He is learning performing at Stella Adler now, and so he is making an attempt to, you understand, he is at that age the place it is solely development forward of him and he began in a fantastic place. He obtained the function auditioning with this gentleman (factors to Denzel). I did not even know he was going to be auditioning. He was up for one more function with the casting director who was working with Spike on our movie, and I am in rehearsal with Spike someday. He says, ‘Elijah’s studying with Denzel on Monday,’ as a result of the identical casting director had despatched tape of Elijah from this earlier factor and Spike noticed it. He stated, ‘He’ll audition with Denzel. I stated, ‘Actually?’ I stated, ‘Okay.’ So he went in, that was a Friday. He went in on a Monday.
Denzel Washington: Now did you handle to not screw it up between the Friday and the Monday?
Jeffrey Wright: I did okay (laughs). I did okay. No, I stayed out of it. After which I get a name and Denzel calls and he says, and it was across the time of the audition-
Denzel Washington: (laughs) I forgot this half.
Jeffrey Wright: Denzel says, ‘Ah, you understand, he did his greatest, however possibly there will be one other day for him, however I do not suppose it will work out on this one. He did the perfect he might, however I do not suppose it will occur.’ I stated, ‘Wait a minute, you calling on his cellphone!’ Clearly he was in his good graces then, however it’s one factor to get the job, which he did, after which when the cameras rolled on set, he did superbly. He did. Stunning. Very pleased with him.
Highest 2 Lowest opens in theaters nationwide on August 15 and will likely be streaming on Apple TV+ on September 5.
What This Means For Highest 2 Lowest
Highest 2 Lowest represents the fifth collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, after Mo’ Higher Blues, Malcolm X, He Acquired Sport, and Inside Man. Although these two frequent collaborators have rightfully stolen lots of the headlines, Highest 2 Lowest additionally contains a supporting solid that features each completed veterans and promising newcomers alike.
Jeffrey Wright is an Oscar-nominated actor for his efficiency in American Fiction, although his son, Elijah Wright, is making his function movie debut, enjoying the son of his father’s character. The movie is a household affair, as Denzel Washington’s daughter, Katia Washington, can be an government producer on the film.
Along with Elijah Wright, rapper Ice Spice additionally makes her movie debut in Highest 2 Lowest, whereas fellow rapper ASAP Rocky additionally stars.
Our Take On Highest 2 Lowest’s Solid
As standard, Spike Lee’s newest movie has assembled a powerful ensemble solid, with Highest 2 Lowest critiques calling its solid a compelling mix of gravitas and recent vitality. Denzel Washington delivers a commanding and layered flip because the troubled mogul, whereas Jeffrey Wright brings quiet depth and precision.
Critics additionally spotlight ASAP Rocky’s sudden dramatic vary, Ice Spice’s charismatic display screen presence, and Elijah Wright’s pure, heartfelt efficiency, noting he greater than holds his personal alongside the veterans, marking an auspicious debut in Highest 2 Lowest.
Highest 2 Lowest
7/10
- Launch Date
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August 15, 2025
- Runtime
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133 minutes
- Writers
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Alan Fox, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Ryūzō Kikushima, Eijirō Hisaita, Evan Hunter
- Producers
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Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman