Spike Lee believes his latest film with Denzel Washington may be their last project as collaborators.
Following the premiere of their latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, Lee spoke on Tuesday, May 20, about the possibility of this being their “Last Dance.”
“It’s been a blessing to have this body of work of us doing films that the people love, so it’s a blessing, again. I think this is it — five,” Lee said during a press conference at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Washington was not in attendance because he returned to New York City for his performances of Othello on Broadway. Lee said that Washington has been talking more and more about retiring.
“He’s been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal,” Lee explained. “The five films together, you know, they stand up. Malcolm X, I mean, what he did with that film, it’s amazing.”
Before he left, he was surprised with the prestigious honorary Palme d’Or at the Highest 2 Lowest premiere at Cannes.
“To be here once again in Cannes, you know, we’re a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well,” Washington continued. “You know, we’re just blessed beyond measure, I’m blessed beyond measure, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. Thank you.”
“The script was around for many years and Denzel got attached and we got back together,” Lee said of the project’s development during the Cannes press conference.
“The funny thing about that is Denzel and I did not know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago,” Lee said. “So there’s an 18-year gap between Inside Man and this film, but we were surprised because it felt like it was yesterday. We didn’t lose a step.”
Highest 2 Lowest premieres in select theaters Aug. 22 and releases on Apple TV+ Sept. 5.
