On the evening of May 19th local time, the new version of "Highest 2 Lowest" directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky and others held a grand world premiere in Cannes.
On May 19, 2025, local time in France, at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the main creative staff appeared on the red carpet for the premiere of "Heaven and Hell". Visual China Photo
Although "Heaven and Hell" was screened as a non-competitive film at the Cannes Film Festival, the star-studded red carpet that night was no less than any of the works nominated in the main competition unit. Not only were all the film's main creators present, A$AP Rocky's partner, the famous singer Rihanna, also showed up in a blue dress with a pregnant belly; in addition, Jason Momoa and his girlfriend Adrià Arjona, Dakota Johnson, Edward Norton, Isabelle Huppert, Wes Anderson and many other Hollywood and French filmmakers attended, and even the former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy came to support. However, the biggest surprise was not the stars on the red carpet, but the unexpected surprise that the leading actor Denzel Washington received before the film opened.
Denzel Washington reacted after receiving the Honorary Palme d'Or before the premiere of "Heaven and Hell" on May 19, 2025 local time. Visual China Photo
Just before the film officially opened, the film festival organizers presented Denzel Washington with a Palme d'Or for Lifetime Achievement. Washington was not aware of the award in advance, so he was very excited. After receiving the award from his old friend Spike Lee, he said, "We are so lucky to be able to make a movie, dress up and attend the film festival, and get paid for it."
Denzel Washington plays a music mogul who gets caught up in a kidnapping and ransom case.
However, Denzel Washington did not wait until the end of the film to enjoy the audience's applause, and hurried to the airport. He is currently performing in the 15-week stage play "Othello" on Broadway. He flew to France just to attend the premiere that night and will continue to stand on the Broadway stage on May 20.
"Heaven & Hell" is scheduled to be officially released in North America on August 22 and will be available on Apple's streaming platform on September 5.
"Heaven and Hell" is adapted from Akira Kurosawa's 1963 work. According to director Spike Lee, the new version is a "reinterpretation" of the old work. Denzel Washington plays a music mogul who is forced to make a moral choice between life and death because of being involved in a kidnapping and ransom case. The film is produced by Apple Pictures and A24 Films will be responsible for the theatrical distribution. It is scheduled to be officially released in North America on August 22 and will be available on Apple's streaming platform on September 5.
