Spike Lee addressed whether Highest 2 Lowest will be his last movie with Denzel Washington. The pair have worked on five movies together, including Inside Man, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and the latest reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 movie, High and Low. At Cannes, the legendary filmmaker suggested that Highest 2 Lowest might be their last film together after Washington’s talk about retiring.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Malcolm X director revealed whether he intends to do another movie with Washington. He clarified that despite what he said, he’s “open” to working with the actor again, hoping that Highest 2 Lowest would “not be the last film” from the duo. Read Lee’s comment below:

I said that before, but I got my mind right. I’m open to work with Denzel Washington and this not be the last film of the dynamic duo, D and Lee.

What This Means For Highest 2 Lowest

Lee and Washington met on the set of Mo’ Better Blues in 1990, marking the first movie they made together and the beginning of a long and fruitful working relationship throughout the ’90s. Washington’s performance in Malcolm X earned him an Academy Award nomination, while the movie grossed over $48 million domestically during its theatrical run.

Inside Man, their most recent previous movie together, achieved significant commercial success. However, the pair didn’t unite for another film until 2025’s Highest 2 Lowest. Based on Lee’s response, Highest 2 Lowest could potentially kickstart another chapter for the dynamic duo.

Previously, Washington made headlines due to a statement about retiring from the industry after finishing his few upcoming projects at hand. He later clarified that he’s being increasingly selective about the projects he takes on and stressed that he’d only sign on to movies that he feels inspired by.

Our Take On Another Film From Spike Lee & Denzel Washington

Meanwhile, Lee hasn’t explicitly talked about retiring from filmmaking. I believe there’s a high chance that the director will end up making another movie with Washington, even though they’ve made five good films together. Lee’s comment on a possible collaboration indicates the level of emotional attachment he has to their long-standing professional relationship.

Five films are a lot, but for Lee and Washington, it is certainly not enough. Highest 2 Lowest sees the Gladiator II actor starring as a powerful music mogul who faces an impossible decision when being targeted for ransom. The movie is generating buzz before its worldwide release, and with a 92% RT score from 49 critics, the latest collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington has received praise for its style and performance.