Spike Lee Cast A$AP Rocky in ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ After Viral Meme Compared Him to Denzel Washington

The iconic director reveals a meme linking A$AP Rocky to Denzel Washington inspired his casting in the upcoming thriller Highest 2 Lowest, a modern reinterpretation of Kurosawa’s High and Low, set to premiere at Cannes.

📍 Washington | April 21, 2025

Spike Lee has revealed that a viral meme was the surprising spark behind the casting of A$AP Rocky in his upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest. In a recent interview with Deadline, the celebrated filmmaker shared that he discovered a meme years ago comparing the rapper to Denzel Washington, which led him to envision Rocky as a central figure in the film.

“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 said, adding, “That meme made it into the movie.”

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🎬 A$AP Rocky Faces Off with Denzel in Thriller Inspired by Kurosawa

Highest 2 Lowest is Spike Lee’s bold reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. In this modern version, Denzel Washington plays a powerful music mogul caught in a high-stakes ransom plot, while A$AP Rocky takes on a lead role that brings him head-to-head with the acting legend.

“A$AP, man, he fire… there are some scenes where him and D go head-to-head — he ain’t backing up. Like, ‘I’m here too,’” Lee said.

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🎥 From Music to Movies: A$AP Rocky’s Rising Acting Career

While Highest 2 Lowest marks a major turning point in Rocky’s cinematic journey, it’s not his first foray into film. He made his acting debut in 2015’s Dope and more recently appeared in A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

According to Lee, Rocky plays “the main role” in the film, which is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

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🎞️ Spike Lee on the Film: “Very Happy with the Way It Turned Out”

Lee, who’s known for his bold vision and blending pop culture with social commentary, expressed deep satisfaction with the final cut of Highest 2 Lowest:

“So very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world.”

With two powerhouse names in Rocky and Washington, and a classic source material at its core, Highest 2 Lowest is shaping up to be one of Cannes’ most anticipated premieres.