It’s About Time A Movie Is Being Made On The Carthaginians
FINALLY!!!
A few days ago, I read that actor, Denzel Washington will play the Carthaginian general, Hannibal in a Netflix movie, and Antoine Fuqua will direct this upcoming project. The two make a good team based on their past collaborations.
As a HUGE fan of Carthaginian history, I’m beyond thrilled that this movie is being made about them. I’ve been waiting for a motion picture about Hannibal and the Carthaginians since I learned about them in the game, Age Of Empires: The Rise of Rome.
I remember reading years ago that Vin Diesel was working on making a movie about Hannibal, but for whatever reason, it never happened. It’s a shame. There’s a lot of material that would be great to see in movie form.
The history of Hannibal and Carthage is one I’ll watch no matter who directs or stars in it. Shoot, someone like…Jonah Hill could play Hannibal I will still see the movie, as long as it’s watchable.
Carthage was a great city that existed in North Africa during B.C. times. It was founded in 814 B.C. by Queen Dido, who left the city of Tyre to escape her brother, Pygmalion. Through time, Carthage would grow into a powerful place in the Mediterranean.
The city would grow to be the second largest in the ancient Mediterranean behind Alexandria, the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt. Carthage would continue to grow from a colony to the capital of a new empire and a major military power.
Carthage is known for fighting Rome in the Punic Wars that lasted from 264 to 146 BC.
- First Punic War (264–241 BCE)
- Second Punic War (218–201 BCE)
- Third Punic War (149–146 BCE)
Rome won all three wars, but not without a strong fight from Carthage. Hannibal Barca (247–183 BCE) would give Carthage a great shot at defeating the Romans in the Second Punic War.
Hannibal, a sworn enemy of Rome, received intelligence that Roman armies were moving against him and, in a bold gamble, marched his forces over the Alps and into northern Italy. Hannibal then proceeded to win every single engagement against the Romans, conquering northern Italy and gathering former allies of Rome to his side.
Hannibal’s greatest victory would be winning the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, killing 44,000 Roman soldiers and losing 6,000 of his own. Hannibal couldn’t build off this victory, because Carthage refused to send him the reinforcement and supplies he needed.
The story didn’t end well for Carthage and its people. The Romans would destroy Carthage in the third Punic War in 146 B.C. According to Wikipedia, on the last day, the Romans took 50,000 prisoners who would be sold into slavery.
According to various articles, Hannibal would commit suicide by drinking poison to avoid being captured by the Romans in 183 (or 181) BC.
I’m excited for this Netflix movie on Hannibal to be made. I am worried though that Denzel is too old to be playing Hannibal. Hannibal was born in 247 BC. The Second Punic War lasted from 218 to 201.
If my mental math is correct, Hannibal was in his 20s, 30s, and 40s when he fought in that War. But, it’s Denzel the Great. He’ll find a way to make us believe in his portrayal of Hannibal, as he does in every role he’s done.
I hope Vin Diesel still makes his Hannibal movie and calls it ‘’I am Hannibal’’. We’ll see.
A movie also needs to be made on the great Constantinople. That place was HUGE during its day. So many empires of the past would be great stories to tell in movie form.
So many stories. So little time.
