After years of being pushed back, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington and acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua are moving ahead with their highly anticipated feature, based on the life of the Carthaginian Warrior Hannibal. The filming of the yet-untitled Netflix historical epic will take place in Rome, Italy, between June 29 and October 9 this year. John Logan wrote the script.More than twenty years ago Vin Diesel announced his plan to make a movie about Hannibal Barca and the Second Punic War. The plan then was for Diesel to play Hannibal and for the script to be in the relevant ancient languages, Mel Gibson style, including "Maltese," by which I think he meant Punic. He continued to bring up the film idea off and on for many years, noted by PaleoJudaica. In 2010 (cf. in 2012), Denzel Washington was mentioned as possibly playing Hannibal's father Hamilcar.[...]
Now Diesel seems no longer to be involved. At least he is not mentioned. Instead, Washington,with Fuqua and Logan, are getting ready to film a Hannibal movie, with Washington apparently playing the role of Hannibal. I am baffled by this casting. Hannibal was in his late 20s to mid-40s during the war and he died in his mid-60s. Washington is 71.
In 2010, Washington in the role of Hamilcar (who died in his mid-40s ten years before the Second Punic War) made some sense. Him as Hannibal in 2026, less so. It would be nice to have some explanation, but meanwhile I will keep an open mind.
No word on whether this script uses any ancient languages.
I noted the announcement of the Washington production back in late 2023, with comments on the age discrepancy. Follow the links from there for posts on Diesel's planned movie.
I'm glad to hear that filming is finally scheduled. I look forward to the movie.
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