Netflix Pauses Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua’s Hannibal War Movie Over Budget Concerns

Netflix has paused pre-production on Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington‘s “Hannibal” film.

Variety previously reported that the historical epic was planning a summer shoot in Italy, with Fuqua directing and Washington starring as the Carthaginian general, who, as the official logline explains, “is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history.” However, the war movie — which was in early pre-production — has been put on pause while the producers, including Fuqua and Washington, and the studio hammer out budgetary concerns. The hope is for the project to move forward at Netflix once the concerns are addressed.

Fuqua is set to direct from a script by Oscar winner John Logan (“The Aviator” and “Gladiator”) with the story focused on the pivotal battles Hannibal led against the Romans during the Second Punic War. In addition to starring, Washington is producing the film alongside Erik Olsen, Adam Goldworm, Todd Black, Clayton Townsend and Fuqua via his Hill District Media’s first-look deal with Netflix. Scott Greenberg, Kat Samick, Katia Washington, Frank Moll and Jeremy Lott are the executive producers.

The Hannibal project will mark Fuqua’s sixth collaboration with Washington, who won an Oscar for Fuqua’s “Training Day” in 2001. They most recently paired on 2023’s “The Equalizer 3,” which also shot primarily in Italy. Washington most recently starred in Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” while Fuqua is currently riding high on the box office success of his latest movie, the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael.” The film, backed by Lionsgate, carried a production budget of more than $155 million. It has grossed more than $850 million at the box office, making it one of the biggest hits of 2026, and the studio is hard at work on a sequel film.

Deadline first reported the Hannibal production delay.