As a cartoon geek, a tangential student of African history and soon-to-be student of African mythology, I couldn’t be happier about this news :):
LOS ANGELES – Vin Diesel will take on the Roman Empire in a new BET Networks cartoon series about military leader Hannibal.
Diesel will voice the noted general, and his One Race Prods. company is producing the show, titled Hannibal the Conqueror.
The half-hour series will span the life of Hannibal, from his tutelage as a warrior under his father, Hamilcar Barca, to his scaling of the Alps with an army of elephants, and his invasion of Italy.
Diesel, who also is in development on a feature film centering on Hannibal, called the series “groundbreaking.”
“I knew that BET would be the perfect place to launch an animated series that celebrates an African mythology and a general that is probably the most notorious general of all time,” Diesel said. “It’s a story that resonates with everyone–it truly is a celebration of a general who is able to bring everyone together with the common cause to essentially fight for freedom.”
The network has ordered six episodes, and is planning to air it in a primetime slot in fall 2007.
“This isn’t a Saturday morning show–we want to be able to show a lot more of the drama and action that you expect to see in primetime,” BET senior vp animation Denys Cowan said.
I thought my action cartoon-fiending days were over when Cartoon Network’s “Justice League Unlimited” ended this spring. Ancient history told properly from an African-centered mythological perspective…..it’s about damn time! Now, if BET Enterainment President Reginald Hudlin can only get a cartoon about Marvel Comics’ Black Panther green-lit, we’re in business! It shouldn’t be too hard for him to be the liaison, since he writes the character for the monthly comic.
Drums in the Global Village 