Spike Lee planning military comedy drama, Liberty

Spike Lee
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Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee is producing – and may direct – the Hal Ashby-inspired military comedy drama, Liberty.


Spike Lee is a hard-working director who continues to put out searing films that question the status quo. Given the currently febrile nature of America’s cultural and political landscape, the veteran filmmaker seems energised to continue doing what he’s been doing for the last four decades.

Lee is collaborating again with Denzel Washington on High And Low, with filming said to have wrapped, with things proceeding into the post-production phase. A remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, it doesn’t have an exact release slot yet, but is expected to arrive early this summer.

As for what comes next, trying to navigate through Lee’s long list of projects is somewhat difficult, but one emerging contender is Liberty, a military comedy drama which he’ll produce and may direct. According to Deadline, the project started out with a pitch from military veterans and writers Rebecca Murga and Jalysa Conway, who will also write the script.

The film is said to take inspiration from Hal Ashby’s Oscar-nominated 1973 naval comedy drama The Last Detail, which stars Jack Nicholson and follows a group of cadets on a wild night in Manhattan. Lee has already tackled the wild New York all-nighter with 2002’s 25th Hour, a post 9/11 film that followed Edward Norton’s New York drug dealer Montgomery Brogan as he reflected on his life during a final night of excess before heading to prison.

The project sounds fascinating, and we’re hoping that Lee is tempted to direct as well as produce. 2018’s BlacKkKlansman saw him delve somewhat into comedy drama territory, showcasing his ability to nail absurdist comedy without surrendering the lightning-rod style that characterises so much of his work.

When we hear more about Liberty, we’ll let you know.

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