Los Angeles, May 18, 2026, 02:02 (PDT)
- Washington’s Netflix “Hannibal” project is gearing up for a summer shoot in Italy, which only makes Vin Diesel’s still-stuck Hannibal Barca film look even more stalled by comparison.
- Washington’s previous roles are surfacing again, with fresh performance rankings and “The Book of Eli” showing up on AMC+, all fueling renewed buzz.
- No word yet on a release date from Netflix, and aside from Washington, the bigger casting pieces are still under wraps.
Denzel Washington’s long-anticipated Netflix project about Hannibal Barca is gearing up for production in Italy, putting the two-time Oscar winner out front on the Carthaginian general’s story—ahead of Vin Diesel’s rival project, which’s languished in development for over twenty years. Variety reports Antoine Fuqua will direct, with filming slated for Italy this summer. This week, MovieWeb cast Washington’s advance as a win in the race for a role Diesel, the “Fast & Furious” headliner, has chased for years. Variety
The timing isn’t random—this goes beyond stale speculation. Over the last two days, Washington popped up in a new ScreenRant ranking of his biggest roles, made a MovieWeb headline tied to the Hannibal buzz, and saw “The Book of Eli” climb back into focus: AMC has it on its listings, and as of May 17, FlixPatrol put it at No. 9 among AMC+ movies worldwide. Screen Rant
The timing lines up as streaming platforms increasingly rely on star-driven back catalogs, not simply fresh content. Over at Netflix, “Hannibal” offers Washington and Fuqua a sweeping historical stage. AMC+ is betting “The Book of Eli” can help it stand out, stacking it alongside “I Am Legend” and “The Bourne Identity” in a packed action lineup. FlixPatrol
Netflix, unveiling the project, confirmed that Washington will take on the role of Hannibal—the famed Carthaginian general known for leading his troops and elephants over the Alps to challenge Rome in the Second Punic War, the historic clash with Carthage. There’s still no title for the film. Fuqua is set to direct, with the script coming from John Logan. Both Washington and Fuqua are on board as producers through Fuqua’s Hill District Media first-look pact with Netflix.
Washington and Fuqua have teamed up before — think “Training Day,” which clinched Washington the best actor Oscar, and the “Equalizer” franchise, most recently “The Equalizer 3,” filmed in Italy. Speaking to the Associated Press, Fuqua called Washington “an international movie star,” adding that he “just feels right” in Italy. AP News
Diesel hasn’t exactly kept his Hannibal ambitions quiet. Back in 2021, Men’s Health reported he’d been discussing the idea—both directing and playing Hannibal Barca—since at least 2002. Entertainment Weekly, for its part, cited a 2013 interview where Diesel referenced a David Franzoni script from ten years prior, adding that another studio was pushing for a full trilogy.
Back in 2006, The Guardian noted Diesel’s intention to both direct and headline a Hannibal biopic, mentioning California, Spain, and Santo Domingo as possible filming spots. That project never made it to theaters. Instead, Washington’s Netflix film has moved into the spotlight as the closest contender to actually being shot.
Washington’s reputation now extends well beyond his latest epic. ScreenRant just put out a fresh ranking that circles back to earlier turns like “Flight” and “Training Day,” and Rotten Tomatoes’ own guide pushes “Glory,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” and “Highest 2 Lowest” toward the upper tier of his filmography. Screen Rant
The risk remains. Netflix hasn’t put out a release date yet, and over at MovieInsider, “Hannibal” is still marked as to be announced—no trailer in sight. Big historical films like this one can get delayed if casting, locations, effects, or funding fall out of sync. Movie Insider
The momentum has swung, that’s clear enough. Washington’s Hannibal film has locked in a director, a writer, a studio, and there’s word of an Italy production. Diesel’s attempt? Years of talk, but still no greenlight on filming.
