Spike Lee's 'Highest 2 Lowest' to Premiere at Cannes 2025 Out of Competition, Starring Denzel Washington

Spike Lee has announced that his new film, 'Highest 2 Lowest,' starring Denzel Washington, will premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The announcement, made via Instagram, followed the official festival selection reveal, where Lee's film was notably absent. Cannes Film Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux clarified that the film's initial omission was due to pending confirmations regarding Denzel Washington's attendance. Fremaux has since confirmed that both Lee and Washington will be present for the screening. The premiere will take place on May 19th, coinciding with the anniversary of Lee's 'Do the Right Thing' screening at Cannes in 1989 and what would have been Malcolm X's 100th birthday. 'Highest 2 Lowest' is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 'High and Low,' and stars Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and ASAP Rocky. The film is slated for a theatrical release by A24, followed by streaming on AppleTV+. In 2021, Spike Lee, who served as jury president, inadvertently revealed the Palme d'Or winner, 'Titane,' early in the ceremony.