Diesel Gets Animated Over 'Hannibal The Conqueror"

BET Networks' animation unit will join with Vin Diesel's One Race Productions to produce "Hannibal the Conqueror", an animated series based on the life of 'Hannibal of Carthage'.

The project was jointly announced by Vin Diesel and Reginald Hudlin, BET President of Entertainment.

One Race Vice President Samantha Vincent and Diesel will executive produce.

In January, BET announced the formation of BET Animation under the management of Denys Cowan, former producer of the animated series "The Boondocks".

Diesel's series will span the life of Hannibal, from his tutelage as a warrior under his father, the king of Carthage, to his invasions of Spain, England and his scaling the Alps with an army of elephants.

He assembled an army to challenge the Roman Empire and his techniques are studied today.

"From my first week at BET, I have been pursuing this project," said Hudlin.

"Vin Diesel brings great thought and passion to both character development and storylines, and we are pleased to be the first to be in the animation production business with Vin and One Race Productions. 'Hannibal' will be epic storytelling."

"It only took Reginald Hudlin becoming President of Entertainment for me to know that BET would be the perfect network to launch a 'Hannibal' franchise, the story of the great African general who fought an empire," said Diesel.

"Having worked passionately for ten years to develop a film property on Hannibal, this animated series will offer audiences a chance to begin to understand the larger-than-life mythology of this classic figure."