EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has halted pre-production on its untitled epic drama about ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal starring Denzel Washington in the titular role with his frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua directing. The film was planning to shoot later this year in Italy but insiders now say things have been put on pause so that producers and the studio can figure out the budget. Insiders add that both sides are working to get the movie back on track and that the hope is the movie still could move forward at Netflix.
The project had been gearing up over the past couple weeks with Netflix meeting with actors to join Washington in the film as well as Fuqua and his crew scouting locations in Italy. When certain issues arose that still needed to be addressed, both sides agreed it was best to halt pre-production and get things in a good place that the studio and producers agreed on.
No matter what happens, the project feels like audiences and the industry would be rooting for it to get figured out, given that it features one of the biggest movie stars in the world and the director of the biggest live-action film of year to date in Michael. The two have a long track record of not only delivering hits like The Equalizer franchise, but Oscars as well, with Washington winning the Best Actor Academy Award after the two first worked together in the cop drama Training Day.
We will let you know more as this unfolds.
