Director Reveals Cannes Selection on Instagram
Filmmaker Spike Lee has announced that his upcoming movie Highest 2 Lowest will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, despite its absence from the official lineup unveiled by festival organizers. Lee broke the news himself via an Instagram post just an hour after the official announcement, confirming that his latest project will screen out of competition at the prestigious French event.
The post featured an image of a custom patch reading “Highest 2 Lowest 2 Cannes” and a caption in Lee’s signature style: “Da New SPIKE LEE JOINT-HIGHEST 2 LOWEST Starring My Brother DENZEL WASHINGTON Has Been Invited To Da 2025 CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.”
A High-Profile Collaboration Between Apple, A24, and Denzel Washington
Highest 2 Lowest, a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 suspense classic High and Low, reunites Spike Lee with frequent collaborator Denzel Washington. The film is a joint venture from Apple Original Films and indie powerhouse A24, marking one of the most anticipated projects of the year. The film also features performances by Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, rapper Ice Spice, and A$AP Rocky.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the story is said to be loosely inspired by Ed McBain’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom, which also served as the basis for Kurosawa’s film. The original story centers on a wealthy executive confronted with a life-altering decision when a child is kidnapped.
Cannes Organizers Tease More Titles to Come
Lee’s impromptu announcement follows a long-standing tradition of late additions to Cannes’ prestigious lineup. During Thursday’s press conference, Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux even joked about receiving texts regarding an overlooked title—possibly a nod to Lee’s film.
The official lineup already includes heavyweight entries from Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Richard Linklater, and Kelly Reichardt. Though Highest 2 Lowest will screen out of competition and isn’t eligible for the coveted Palme d’Or, it will be showcased alongside other high-profile projects such as Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Rebecca Zlotowski’s Vie Privée starring Jodie Foster.
A History of Bold Moves at Cannes
This isn’t Lee’s first moment of spontaneity at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2021, while serving as jury president, he accidentally revealed the Palme d’Or winner — Titane — before the official announcement, leading to a famously awkward ceremony. “I have no excuses,” Lee later admitted at the press conference. “I messed up.”
Ironically, Titane director Julia Ducournau will also return to Cannes this year with her new film Alpha, adding to the festival’s roster of returning auteurs.
Cannes Debut Adds to Anticipation Around ‘Highest 2 Lowest’
With its star-studded cast, Kurosawa-inspired narrative, and the creative force of Spike Lee behind the camera, Highest 2 Lowest has already generated significant buzz. Its Cannes premiere solidifies its status as one of the must-see films of 2025, even before a wider release date has been announced. Whether it will follow in the awards-season footsteps of other Apple-backed titles remains to be seen, but its inclusion at Cannes is a strong early signal.