Ice Spice is set to appear in Spike Lee‘s upcoming English-language reinterpretation of theAkira Kurosawa crime thriller “High and Low.”
“High and Low” will mark Ice Spice’s acting debut, and she’s already begun shooting for the project starring Denzel Washington.
The rapper skyrocketed to fame following the release of her breakthrough single, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and subsequent collaborations with Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. She was nominated for four Grammys this year, including best rap song and best new artist. Ice Spice’s first studio album, “Y2K,” is due out this year.
The project is the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, and their first since 2006’s “Inside Man.” Apple Original Films and A24 are partnering on the project, which will be released theatrically by A24 before a global launch on AppleTV+.
Apple Original Films tweeted a photo of Washington and Lee on Wednesday to announce that the project had officially begun production.
Developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, “High and Low” features a script written by Lee and Alan Fox.
The feature will be produced by Todd Black (“Emancipation,” “The Equalizer” films) for Escape Artists and Jason Michael Berman (“Air,” “Nine Days”) for Mandalay Pictures. Lee will also serve as executive producer through his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Mandalay’s Peter Guber will executive produce, along with Juniper Productions’ Matthew Lindner, Chris Brigham, and Katia Washington. Mandalay’s Jordan Moldo is co-producing.
Lee and Washington previously collaborated on “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game” and “Inside Man.” It also marks the latest project for Washington with Todd Black following collaborations on “Fences,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “The Equalizer” franchise.
Kurosawa’s original 1963 film starring Toshiro Mifune was based on the Ed McBain novel “King’s Ransom,” which tells the story of a businessman’s ruin following a ransom payment to kidnappers.
Ice Spice is managed by James Rosemond Jr. for Mastermind Artists. Legal representatives are Leon Morabia Esq./Mark Music & Media Law, P.C.