Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice and director Spike Lee led a high-profile crowd at the red carpet premiere tonight for the A24 and Apple film at New York City’s Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The event, held in BAM Strong’s Harvey Theater, brought together a wide array of talent from film and music. Cast members in attendance included Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters and John Douglas Thompson. Giancarlo Esposito and Rosie Perez—both longtime collaborators of Spike Lee who starred in his breakthrough Do the Right Thing—reunited with the director on the carpet. Musicians and performers joining the evening included A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, Judy Collins, Brent Faiyaz, Chance the Rapper, Princess Nokia and Slick Rick. Other notable guests included Miles Caton, Dapper Dan, Keegan-Michael Key, Susan Kelechi Watson, Tony winner Adrienne Warren and Edie Falco.
The film, which opens in theaters Aug. 15 and arrives on Apple TV+ Sept. 5, is a contemporary reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low—originally adapted from Ed McBain’s (Evan Hunter) novel King’s Ransom. While Kurosawa’s thriller follows a shoe company executive who confronts extortion after his chauffeur’s child is mistakenly kidnapped, Spike Lee’s version relocates the moral and social stakes to present-day New York City and centers on a music mogul, played by Denzel Washington, facing a similar crisis.
This project marks the first time Lee and Washington have reunited behind Lee’s direction since 2006’s Inside Man. Lee has previously suggested this collaboration could be his final time directing Washington, noting the actor’s own hints about potential retirement—an added layer of significance for fans of their earlier work.
Why this remake matters
– Adapting High and Low allows Spike Lee to examine Kurosawa’s themes—class, responsibility, and moral calculus—through the lens of contemporary urban life and the music industry, sectors Lee has frequently explored in his filmmaking.
– The casting of a major star like Denzel Washington as a music executive situates the story at the intersection of fame, power and accountability, promising a fresh cultural angle on the original thriller’s ethical dilemmas.
– The Brooklyn premiere and the reunion with longtime collaborators add nostalgic resonance and underline the film’s ties to New York’s cultural history.
Short summary
Spike Lee’s new film, starring Denzel Washington, premiered at BAM’s Harvey Theater with a star-studded red carpet that included prominent musicians and returning collaborators. The movie modernizes Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, transplanting its ransom-and-moral-crisis premise into contemporary New York and the world of a music mogul. It hits theaters Aug. 15 and streams on Apple TV+ Sept. 5.
Additional comments and publishing suggestions
– Include a gallery of red carpet photos and a clip or embed of the trailer to boost engagement.
– Consider a short sidebar about the lineage of the story—from Ed McBain’s novel to Kurosawa’s film to Lee’s reinterpretation—to give readers context.
– A brief Q&A excerpt or pull quote from Lee or Washington (if available) would add depth; otherwise, highlight reactions from attendees to capture the premiere atmosphere.
– For social posts, emphasize the Lee–Washington reunion and the film’s modern take on a classic as hooks to drive interest.
Hopeful note
The combination of Spike Lee’s distinctive voice, Denzel Washington’s commanding presence and a soundtrack-shaped, contemporary New York setting suggests a film that can honor Kurosawa’s moral complexity while speaking powerfully to today’s audiences—an artistic reunion with strong potential for critical and cultural impact.