Hannibal is a Phoenician from Carthage, a port city founded by the Lebanese Phoenicians who also founded Sardinia, Cadiz, Marbella and most Mediterranean port cities
Vin Diesel has had a rival project dwelling in development for over 15 years. Diesel intended upon directing and staring as Hannibal, however the success of the Fast and Furious franchise meant that the time to push his dream project to fruition kept getting pushed back, it now appears as though he missed his window of opportunity.