Who says there’s no “Passion” effect, no rush to mimic Mel Gibson’s phenomenal success? Details magazine reports in its April cover story featuring Vin Diesel–whose recent filmography includes “The Chronicles of Riddick” and “The Pacifier”–that he is preparing to star as “one of the baddest conquerors in all history: Hannibal, the elephant-riding Alps-crosser.” And, oh yeah, he’s doing the film in Punic.

So, the sword-and-sandals epic isn’t exactly the type of “religious revival” media speculated about after “The Passion of the Christ,” but Diesel certainly is making like Mel and joining the dead language club. “It is nutty!” Diesel explained to queries from Detail’s Kevin Gray. “But I don’t have a choice. I got to do it right.”

Let’s hope it’s more “Boiler Room” right, than “xXx” right.