Hannibal the Conqueror

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.

Hannibal the Conqueror
Directed by	Vin Diesel
Produced by	Vin Diesel George Zakk
Written by	David Franzoni Ross Leckie (novel)
Starring	Vin Diesel F. Valentino Morales Yorick van Wageningen Ana Vega
Release date(s)	2008
Language	Phoenician, Greek and Latin
Budget	51,000,000
IMDb profile

Hannibal the Conqueror is a 2008 film, based on the novel by Ross Leckie, directed by and starring Vin Diesel. It centers on the Carthaginian commander Hannibal who led a mighty army across the Alps and wreaked havoc on the Romans from 218 BC until his defeat in 202 BC.

Diesel, who has wanted to produce a movie about Hannibal for many years, stated in March of 2005 that the film's budget was still in question. Diesel said that he was in "soft pre-production" at that time, attempting to reduce the film's proposed budget - which an unnamed studio had quoted at a titanic 217 million dollars - down to a more manageable 50 million dollars. Diesel has admitted seeking advice with director Mel Gibson on making a movie with an ancient language as well as getting financiers, stating: ""Passion of the Christ helps the cause because it says you can do a foreign film and it will do business" [1].

So far, from the cast that has been announced, Vin Diesel will play the leading role as Hannibal Barca. Valentino Morales, Vin's inseparable friend, will play the brother of Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal. Other cast members that have been announced, Yorick Van Wageningen and Ana Vega, have no specific role as of yet.

Diesel has apparently scouted locations and has worked out a script in Phoenician and Latin, he is also currently in negotiations and pre-production. While doubts had lingered over the movie's production for several years, Vin Diesel fansite VinXperience had reported that the filming for Hannibal would begin in November 2006. Diesel will apparently shoot the final scripted scenes for Hannibal in the Dominican Republic before going to Spain and California early next year to shoot the rest of the movie while the release date is still either 2007/08.

According to the Internet Movie Database, as of late 2006, the title of the movie has been selected as "Hannibal the Conqueror"