Netflix has suspended pre-production on "Hannibal," starring Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington.
Previously Variety It was reported that filming on the historical epic was planned for the summer in Italy, with Fuqua set to direct and Washington set to play the Carthaginian general, who, as the official synopsis explains, is "widely considered one of history's greatest military leaders." However, filming on the war film, which was in early development, has been suspended while the producers, including Fuqua and Washington, and the studio address budgetary issues. It is hoped that the project will resume on Netflix once these issues are resolved.
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Fuqua will direct from a screenplay by Oscar winner John Logan (The Aviator and Gladiator), and the story will focus on Hannibal's pivotal battles against the Romans during the Second Punic War. In addition to starring, Washington is producing the film alongside Eric Olsen, Adam Goldworm, Todd Black, Clayton Townsend, and Fuqua as part of a first-run rights deal with Netflix through his Hill District Media company. Executive producers are Scott Greenberg, Kat Samick, Katia Washington, Frank Moll, and Jeremy Lott.
Hannibal marks the sixth collaboration between Fuqua and Washington, who won an Oscar for Fuqua's 2001 film Training Day. They last collaborated on 2023's The Equalizer 3, which also filmed primarily in Italy. Washington recently starred in Spike Lee's The Highest 2 Lowest, and Fuqua is riding the success of his latest film, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael. Produced with Lionsgate backing, the film's budget exceeded $155 million. It grossed over $850 million at the box office, becoming one of the biggest hits of 2026, and the studio is actively developing a sequel.
Deadline was the first to report on the delay in production of the series "Hannibal.".
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