Denzel Washington To Star As Historical Warrior Hannibal In Upcoming Film

Denzel Washington has a new lead role. The actor will play Hannibal in the upcoming Netflix film. The project, exclusively reported by Deadline on Monday (November 13), reunites Washington with director Antoine Fuqua. “Based on the real-life warrior Hannibal, widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. The film covers the main battles he led during the Second Punic War against the Roman Republic.”

The feature is executive produced by Jeremy Lott and Frank Moll. John Logan is the screenwriter and Fuqua, Washington, Erik Olsen and Adam Goldworm are producers of the film. It’s also part Fuqua’s production company’s first-look partnership with Netflix, which was announced in 2021.

According to Deadline, the untitled film has long been on the Oscar-winning actor’s mind as it brings back a project he wanted to star in more than 20 years ago.  

Carthaginian general Hannibal was only six years old when he was introduced to war and fighting. After spending years in exile following his defeat at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, the leader poisoned himself rather than surrender to the Roman army.