Netflix pauses Denzel Washington Hannibal film

Production on a major historical epic starring Denzel Washington has been paused. Netflix has halted pre-production on an untitled film about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, which was set to begin filming in Italy this summer, due to budgetary concerns.

The project reunites Washington with director Antoine Fuqua, marking their sixth collaboration. Washington is slated to star as Hannibal, the legendary military commander who led Carthage's forces against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. The script was written by Oscar-winning screenwriter John Logan, known for Gladiator and The Aviator. According to insiders, both the studio and the producers, which include Washington and Fuqua, are working to resolve the budget issues with the hope of moving forward at Netflix.

The film had been in active development, with recent meetings held for other cast members and location scouting already underway in Italy. When certain issues arose, both sides reportedly agreed to pause pre-production to ensure the project begins on solid footing.

The delay comes as Fuqua is experiencing significant commercial success with his recent film, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael. That film,...