Director Antoine Fuqua has once again sought out his frequent collaborator, the actor Denzel Washington, for a new movie for Netflix, having previously worked together on Training Day and The Equalizer.
This time, it looks like Washington will have a starkly different role, though, as he is set to play the ancient general of Carthage, Hannibal, in an as-yet-untitled movie for the streaming service.
The forthcoming film is being written by John Logan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, so he knows a thing or two about historical epics.
The official logline for the movie reads, “based on real-life warrior Hannibal, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. The film covers the pivotal battles he led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War.”
Hannibal had won critical battles for the Carthaginians against the Romans, and he invaded Italy whilst riding atop a North African elephant, going on to occupy most of Southern Italy for around 15 years.
He was eventually defeated by the Romans during the Battle of Zama when they counter-invaded North Africa.
Washington is producing the movie with Erik Olsen, Adam Goldworm and Fuqua per his Hill District Media’s first-look deal with Netflix.
