Spike Lee’s English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller of the same name is currently in production.
And on Friday, a pair of the film’s lead actors, Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright, were caught in action filming a scene on the streets of New York City.
All the action seemed to revolve around a blue and silver car parked on the side of a street that has caught the attention of Washington.
The two-time Academy Award winner, 69, looks dapper in a blue three-piece suit paired with a white dress shirt and tie, blue sneakers and dark sunglasses.
Finally, after walking a bit to the car, the actor sits in the back seat to chat with someone, who could be Wright, who was also shot in another scene getting out of the front driver’s seat of that same vehicle.
Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright were spotted on the set of Spike Lee’s new movie, High And Low, filming a scene on the streets of New York City on Friday.
High And Low marks the 25th feature film of Spike Lee’s career dating back to his student production Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983).
As Washington walks to the car with a big beaming smile and empty hands, he reappears and emerges from the back seat holding a large brown envelope.
It’s also easy to notice that he doesn’t have the same bright smile on his face once he gets out of the car.
The busy day of filming also captured Wright in action on the streets dressed in a black tracksuit with a white t-shirt, black sneakers, a white beanie over his shaved head and sporting a goatee.
The Basquiat star appeared to be very busy during his scene in which he gets out of the passenger seat in a seemingly hurry and then begins moving down the street.
The Washington, D.C. native would also be seen between takes walking down the sidewalk with his phone in hand, appearing to mentally prepare to do his next scene.
At one point, Wight flashed an infectious smile as he walked down a block, apparently talking on the phone.
Lee, 67, appeared at various points offering his thoughts on how he wants a particular shot to look dressed in a blue jacket with off-white pants, white glasses and a New York Knicks cap over his short hair.
He also had headphones around his neck to listen to the scenes they were working on that day.
The shoot seemed to revolve around a blue and silver car parked on the side of a street.
Washington flashed his infectious smile as he addressed the person in the parked car.
The actor seemed to laugh while smiling before deciding to get into the vehicle.
While days on set typically last more than an eight-hour shift, Lee made sure to arrive in time for the Knicks’ game at Madison Square Garden against the Brooklyn Nets later that night.
In fact, the acclaimed writer and director would appear flashing a peace sign and smiling as he was photographed sitting in his courtside seat.
And he had reason to be happy when his beloved Knicks beat Brooklyn, despite a series of injuries to star players, in a close game, 111-107, behind Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and 11 assists.
Just two days earlier, Apple Original Films shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) of Lee and Washington showing a “five” with their hands to represent that they are now working on their fifth film together.
The actor would get out of the car with a large brown envelope in his hand.
The two-time Oscar winner was wrapping up filming on Ridley Scott’s long-awaited epic historical drama Gladiator II, which will be released on November 22.
Wright’s scene involved the blue and silver car, so he got out of the driver’s seat.
The Oscar-nominated actor slowly walked away from the car in another angle of the scene
The Basquiat actor offered a pleasant smile between takes, while seemingly preparing for the next task at hand.
‘No. 5 now in production,” reads the caption of the April 10 post.
Previously, the duo worked on Inside Man (2006), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992) and He Got Game (1998).
That means High And Low marks the first film the pair have worked on together in about 26 years.
Directed by Lee, who is working from a script he co-wrote with Alan Fox, the film will be released in theaters before entering the world of streaming through Apple TV+.
In addition to Washington and Wright, the cast also includes Ilfenesh Hadera and Ice Spice.
Spike Lee attends the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks on April 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Spike Lee and Denzel Washington flashed a ‘five’ to represent that they are now working on their fifth film alongside the start of High And Low in early March.
Kurosawa’s original 1963 film starring Toshiro Mifune was based on Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom, which tells the story of a businessman’s downfall after paying a ransom to kidnappers.
The film is being produced by Todd Black for Escape Artists and Jason Berman for Mandalay Pictures, according to Variety.
Lee will also executive produce through 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks, along with Peter Guber for Mandalay and Matthew Lindner, Chris Brigham and Katia Washington for Juniper Productions.
Until now, there has been no official information on exactly when High And Low will be released in theaters and the date it will debut on Apple TV+.
