The untitled historical epic war movie, which was planned to shoot in Italy this summer<\/a>, has been halted as the producers and studio deal with budget concerns<\/a>.<\/p>\n Movie execs on both ends are reportedly working to get production back on track in the hope it can still move forward at Netflix, according to Deadline<\/a>. Netflix did not return The Independent\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n The Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua<\/a> is leading the film, which will star Washington as the Carthaginian general Hannibal<\/a>, who is regarded as one of the most famous military commanders in history.<\/p>\n The script has been written by Oscar-winner John Logan, known for work on Michael, The Aviator and Gladiator. The story will focus on the battles Hannibal led against the Romans during the Second Punic War. Washington also serves as a producer on the movie.<\/p>\n The Hannibal project, if eventually released, will mark Fuqua and Washington\u2019s sixth collaboration together. They most recently worked on the 2023 thriller sequel The Equalizer 3.<\/p>\n Washington, 71, has been nominated for 10 Oscars and won two in his nearly five-decade career. He won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Glory in 1990 and Best Actor for Training Day in 2002.<\/p>\n Fuqua joins the project on the heels of his box office sensation Michael, the King of Pop biopic, which has made $850 million and counting<\/a> at the global box office.<\/p>\n The musical film was heavily criticized by reviewers, many of whom claimed that the film \u201cwhitewashed\u201d Jackson\u2019s legacy<\/a> by ending his story in 1988, years before multiple child sexual abuse allegations against the singer emerged.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1434772497.jpg\")
The untitled war film, if released, would mark Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington\u2019s sixth project together (Getty)<\/p>\n