Spike Lee Reveals How Memes Inspired A$AP Rocky’s Casting Opposite Denzel Washington in Upcoming Film
Spike Lee is giving Instagram its flowers.
According to the legendary director, memes helped cast rapper A$AP Rocky in his upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowers” alongside Academy Award winner Denzel Washington.
While appearing on Carmelo Anthony’s “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast this week, the “Clockers” filmmaker broke down how the Harlem emcee ended up in the starring role.
“What’s funny is that I was looking at Instagram, four or five years ago, and people were saying that A$AP looked like he’s Denzel’s son,” Lee shared. “I seen those memes, and then in the film we used that.”
However, it wasn’t just the resemblance that sealed the deal. Lee says Rocky’s acting chops stood on their own. “A$AP, man, he fire. I mean there’s some scenes with him and D where he’s not backing up.”
“Highest 2 Lowest” is described as a modern-day “reinterpretation” of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller “High and Low,” which was itself based on the Ed McBain novel King’s Ransom.
While Kurosawa’s version centered on a businessman facing ruin after paying a kidnapper’s ransom, Lee’s spin updates the setting—and the stakes.
“In Kurosawa’s film, Toshiro Mifune is a shoemaker,” Lee told Deadline. “In our film, Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business.”
The film marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington, and also features a cameo from Bronx rapper Ice Spice.
Despite the Denzel connection, Lee emphasized that Rocky is leading the charge. “He has the main role in the film,” the director confirmed.
The film, distributed through a joint partnership between A24 and Apple Original Films, is set to hit theaters next month. Check out the full discussion below.
