One of Netflix‘s most anticipated (and expensive) upcoming movie projects is officially on hiatus. Deadline reports that the streaming giant has stopped pre-production on Antoine Fuqua‘s historical epic about the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal, with Denzel Washington set to star in the lead role. The reason for the holdup? Figuring out the proper budget for the film, with Netflix and producers in the middle of negotiations for a new number to keep the movie in the pipeline.
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And this project has been in the pipeline for a while. The epic war drama was first announced in November 2023, with the film primarily following the events of the Second Punic War, which pitted Carthage against the Roman Republic. “Gladiator” co-scribe John Logan is on board to pen the script; a good choice, and more than a little ironic after Washington chewed scenery in Ridley Scott‘s 2024 “Gladiator II.” That’s also the only movie set in ancient history in Washington’s filmography, but no matter: a reunion between the actor and his “Training Day” and “The Equalizer” director should pique audience interest. Also of note: Robert Richardson is on board the project as DP.
Does this hiatus mean Fuqua may pivot and return to the next “Michael” film? That’s not likely, given how frustrating making that film apparently was for the director. Add in that Fuqua was in Italy with a crew to scout locations for his Hannibal movie, and it sounds like this stoppage is more Netflix and producers figuring out the numbers more than anything else.
Who else will star in the ancient epic opposite Washington remains a mystery, but Deadline reports that an insider tipped them off that Netflix had met with actors for roles in the past couple of weeks. Hannibal Barca is Washington’s biggest upcoming role, but, in truth, it’s only one of two projects he’s attached to. The other is another Netflix joint: “Here Comes The Flood,” a heist film by “City Of God” director Fernando Ferreira Meirelles that also stars Robert Pattinson and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Stay tuned for updates on this film, and expect the budget dispute to get resolved soon. Another Washington-Fuqua collaboration (it would be their sixth overall) is bound to be a major success for Netflix.
