Spike Lee Reveals Why He Chose A$AP Rocky To Star In His New Film

Spike Lee’s new film High 2 Lowest is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller. For one of the starring roles, the Oscar-winning director tapped A$AP Rocky to star in the film, but Lee’s decision to cast the Harlem rapper was not a conventional one.

During an appearance on Wave Original’s 7 PM In Brooklyn featuring Carmelo Anthony, Lee shared the moment when he knew A&AP was the best choice for the role.

“What’s funny is that I was looking at Instagram, four or five years ago, and people were saying that ASAP [Rocky] looked like he’s Denzel’s son,” Lee explained. “I seen those memes, and then in the film we used that. ASAP, man, he fire.”

“I mean, there’s some scenes where he and Denzel Washington head to head–he ain’t backing up. Like I’m here too. So very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world.”

Along with A$AP, Lee will reunite with Denzel Washington to for the first time in 17 years. Previously, the two worked together on Mo Better Blues(1990),  Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and Inside Man(2006).

“Denzel’s an actor– if I see something, I’m going to go up to him, but most of the time I’m not going to like Denzel da da da– plus he wouldn’t let me do that anyway. The stuff we have to do is done in rehearsal, where they read through the script, and we have the individual rehearsals with the actors, that’s where we do the work,” Lee said. But once we’re on set, we’re going. That’s the important part and that we make sure that we’re both on the same page and if we’re not, we work that shit out before.”

Along with the film, Lee also shared his thoughts on a potential presidential run by ESPN’s Steven A. Smith.

“Nah. Come on now, Steve,” Lee said. “This is some serious shit we dealing with. Lives are at stake.”  

“That’s not a game he want to play in– commend him though for even thinking that, for reaching for that goal,” Carmelo added. “But nah, that’s not a lane that you want to play in. You have to be ready for that lane.”