Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright have finally reunited on screen after more than two decades following their turn in The Manchurian Candidate, for Spike Lee's modern-day reimagining of an Akira Kurosawa classic, Highest 2 Lowest.
In the movie, a music industry titan finds himself the target of a ransom plot, forcing him into the middle of a moral dilemma that could mean life or death for his son. Collider's Therese Lacson described the reimagined film as "vibrant, loud, and full of life," noting that Washington's "powerhouse performance" makes the film "a delight to watch" despite its tonal shift from the original. In addition to Washington and Wright, the cast features Ilfenesh Hadera, Michael Potts, Andy McQueen, and Wright's son, Elijah Wright, as well as being joined by two real-life music industry icons, A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice.
In an exclusive interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub, Washington and Wright discuss the basketball rivalry that took place on set between one of the stars and the director. Wright also reveals what movie his time on Broadway prevented him from joining Washington in, and the pair reflect on how important prep was for Highest 2 Lowest, and why finding the perfect cast was essential.