Netflix Pauses Pre-Production on Denzel Washington’s Hannibal Biopic

Even in his 70s, two-time Oscar-winner Denzel Washington continues to take on high-profile projects. He was attached to portray the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca in a historical biopic that will follow the military campaigns and battles he fought against the Roman Republic more than 2,000 years ago.

Oscar-winner John Logan wrote the screenplay, and Antoine Fuqua was set to direct; Logan’s credits include Gladiator (2000), Skyfall (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), and he also wrote Fuqua’s recent Michael Jackson biopic, Michael. Production has hit a snag. Netflix has abruptly halted pre-production on the untitled Hannibal movie, which had been planning to shoot in Italy later this year.

The pause was ordered while producers and the studio work through budget issues, and both sides are reportedly trying to resolve those matters so the film can proceed and remain on track for a Netflix release.

Italy

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