When it comes to powerhouse collaborations in the entertainment industry, none are as legendary and influential as Denzel Washington and Spike Lee. Having previously worked together on films like Malcolm X (1992) and Inside Man (2006), their creative synergy has never failed to impress audiences.
And now the dynamic duo is joining forces yet again. The Power star seems to have followed in the footsteps of Jake Gyllenhaal, who will soon be seen in Doug Liman’s remake of Road House. After a successful run at The Equalizer 3, Washington, 69, has now set his sights on another exciting project: a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low.
Born out of Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom, the Japanese police procedural crime film was released in 1963.
Denzel Washington & Spike Lee Reunited to Remake 1963’s High and Low
We learned from Variety that Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are back together for their fifth collaboration, which will be their first since Inside Man (2006). The English-language adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller of the same name will go into production in March. The Ed McBain novel King’s Ransom, which followed the downfall of a businessman after a ransom payment to kidnappers, served as the inspiration for the 1963 film starring Toshiro Mifune.
The script for High and Low will be written by Spike Lee and Alan Fox, with production and development handled by A24, Escape Artists, and Mandalay Pictures. Also, Lee will executive produce via his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks in addition to directing.
Prior to this, Lee and Washington collaborated on the following films: Inside Man, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Mo’ Better Blues. With their incredible talent, the duo has the potential to deliver a remake that both honors the original masterpiece and provides an innovative take on the timeless themes it explores.
Based on 24 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes awarded the 1963 flick High and Low an average score of 8/10, a 96% approval rating, and a 95% audience rating. It seems like Lee and Washington are following the example of the upcoming remake that put Conor McGregor on the acting list. The film Road House, a remake of the 1980s hit film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, has already been making the rounds on the internet and is easily one of the highly anticipated films of 2024.
Jake Gyllenhaal Will Star in the Remake of Rowdy Herrington Classic
None of the classic 1980s movies quite compared to the brilliant Road House, helmed by Rowdy Herrington. In the 1989 cult classic, Patrick Swayze played Dalton, a well-known ‘cooler’ with a dark past who is hired to manage security at the Double Deuce nightclub in Jasper, Missouri.
Finally, a remake is on the horizon—35 years later. Doug Liman, the director of Edge of Tomorrow, will helm the Road House remake, which is scheduled for release in the spring of 2024. The main character, Dalton, will be portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, and UFC superstar Conor McGregor will also have a crucial role. Well, these two together on screen might be the winning duo for the upcoming film.
The first official Road House trailer was released on January 25, 2024. With tons of muscle, bar fights, UFC fights, and Gyllenhaal’s intense actions, the first glimpse of the film appears to live up to the high expectations of fans.
Road House is scheduled to be released on March 21, 2024. In the interim, no release date has been set for the High and Low remake. Still, mark your calendars and prepare for an exhilarating and thrilling journey, led by two cinematic powerhouses.
Both Road House (1989) and High and Low (1963) are streaming on Max.
