I think I speak for everyone when I say we collectively lost our s**t upon learning that Denzel Washington had signed on for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. But now, he’s reuniting with Training Day and The Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua for another project involving the Roman Republic. One that casts him in a lead role from the other side: the upcoming Netflix film Hannibal.
According to the official logline, the forthcoming epic is based on the accomplishments and exploits of the titular African general and statesman, who is widely regarded as one of history’s greatest military commanders. It’ll cover the pivotal battles he led against Ancient Rome during the Second Punic War — battle elephants and all — in which he came within inches of toppling the Republic.
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The real-life Hannibal of Carthage (modern Tunisia) recorded some major victories riding a goddamn pachyderm, conquering a vast amount of southern Italy for 15 years. [SPOILERS] The legendary warrior was eventually defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Zama, thus concluding the Second Punic War.
As if all this wasn’t enough to get your freak juices flowing, you’ll be ecstatic to learn that the screenplay has been written by John Logan — the same Hollywood scribe behind Any Given Sunday, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, The Aviator, Skyfall, and Spectre. How. Bloody. Good.
Hannibal has been greenlit as part of the first-look partnership between Antoine Fuqua’s production company Hill District Media and Netflix. This film will mark Fuqua’s sixth collaboration with Denzel Washington after Training Day, The Magnificent Seven, plus The Equalizer trilogy. Perhaps #7 will be that long-rumoured Training Day prequel which is apparently still happening?
Keep an eye out here for news on further casting, the eventual release date, and the trailer.
There’s more where that came from: we watched and ranked the top 10 Denzel Washington movies. Check it out now.
