Oscar winner Denzel Washington will be playing the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal in an untitled epic film for Netflix. Antoine Fuqua will direct, from a script by three-time Oscar-nominate John Logan (“Gladiator”). Fuqua previously worked with Washington on 2001’s “Training Day” and “The Equalizer” trilogy.
The historic figure Hannibal is known for crossing the Alps using elephants to attack Rome, cementing his status as the greatest threat to the republic at the time. He was well-versed in military tactics and used this to lead the troops in what is now Tunisia, near Sicily. The battles he won during the Second Punic War are legendary, and there have been plenty of people in Hollywood looking to adapt his story.
This film will follow the pivotal battles Hannibal led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War, taking place between 218 and 201 BCE. This film will be produced under Fuqua’s production company, Hill District Media, under a first-look deal with Netflix. Fuqua, Washington, Erik Olsen, and Adam Goldworm will produce. Jeremy Lott and Frank Rodriguez Moll will executive produce.
Washington previously tried to develop a project like this at 20th Century Fox over 20 years ago. But the studio wanted to begin production when Washington didn’t, which caused the entire project to be abandoned. Now Netflix is giving the type of backing that a historic epic like this needs to finally come to fruition.
He is also completing work on another period epic, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2.” Production on that film is set to resume shortly after a hiatus due to the now-resolved WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. It is currently expected to be released Thanksgiving 2024.
There is currently no projected release date for this Hannibal epic, but we will keep you posted on updates as they develop.
