Denzel Washington and filmmaker Antoine Fuqua of “Training Day” and “Equalizer” are collaborating once more on a Netflix film that will feature Washington as the historical Carthaginian General Hannibal, Variety has reported.
The film will be written by John Logan, the three-time Academy Award winner who scribed Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator” and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator.”
The film is “based on real-life warrior Hannibal, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history,” according to the official logline. The Second Punic War’s major battles he led against the Roman Republic are covered in the movie.
Riding a war elephant from Northern Africa, Hannibal invaded Italy. He led the Carthaginians to significant wins over the Romans, which gave Hannibal permission to rule most of southern Italy for fifteen years. The Romans eventually counter-invaded North Africa and destroyed Hannibal in the Battle of Zama.
Washington produces the film alongside Erik Olsen, Adam Goldworm and Fuqua via his Hill District Media’s first-look deal with Netflix.
Fuqua most recently directed Washington in the action-thriller “The Equalizer 3,” in which Washington reprised his role as ex-Marine Robert McCall.
Washington is presently working on the upcoming “Gladiator” sequel, which is another epic battle film. The SAG-AFTRA strike forced the movie’s Moroccan production to halt, but the director reportedly disclosed he had been editing ninety minutes of video throughout the work stoppage. In the movie, which is presently scheduled for release in November 2024, Washington stars with Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Pedro Pascal.
