Jeffrey Wright Cast in Spike Lee’s Version of Akira Kurosawa’s HIGH AND LOW

Jeffrey Wright Boards Spike Lee’s High and Low

Fresh off an Oscar nomination for his work in American Fiction, Jeffrey Wright has now been added to the cast of Spike Lee‘s latest, High and Low.

Given Jeffrey Wright’s live-theater background, it’s no surprise that the actor has been cast in the upcoming Apple Original Films dramatic film, High and Low, which is based on a work of the legendary Akira Kurosawa. This project boasts a dream team that includes Denzel Washington as the lead actor and Spike Lee doing directorial duties on the movie. The original version of Akira Kurosawa’s drama was from 1963 so some time has certainly passed and, knowing Spike Lee, it’s almost certain that the new version will contain heightened dramatic elements that will integrate modern themes into the material at hand.

Wright’s character in Lee’s new picture has not been revealed as of yet. The original movie told a tale of a wealthy man who is under the impression that his son has been kidnapped. However, in a twist of events, another child had been taken instead and the premise boils down to a moral issue of whether or not ransom should be paid for a child that has no relation to the leading character. High and Low is a thought-provoking work to be sure and Lee loves those types of projects, judging from the quality of his best films.

The powerhouse studio, A24, will be behind the release of High and Low. They partnered with Apple Original Films and Denzel Washington for 2021’s great, The Tragedy of Macbeth and this new picture will be another prestigious effort for the studio. While an ambitious Akira Kurosawa reworking may not sound like a guaranteed hit at the box-office, many people will still want to see this movie thanks to the director chosen and the film’s excellent cast.

Jeffrey Wright delivered a performance for the record books last year in Cord Jefferson’s hugely successful satire, American Fiction. Wright has been around for years and has quietly built a name for himself as a very distinct character actor both on the stage and in film. For American Fiction, Wright thrived in a starring role and proved he had movie star capabilities. Wright’s time for an Oscar nomination could have come in the supporting category for his work in 2019’s film adaptation of The Goldfinch but the movie’s poor reception hurt his chances at awards nominations for that part. But, American Fiction proves that getting an Oscar nod late is better than never.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have collaborated before in films like He Got Game and Inside Man so another project with them working together may have been expected. With Wright’s addition to the cast, however, there may be even more prestige to the upcoming film than was already anticipated for it.

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