Vin Diesel's been talking about doing 'Hannibal' for a while now. He's still talking.

Vin Diesel, promoting his new film "Find Me Guilty," says that he's finally just about ready to make "Hannibal."

For the record, Vin Diesel said he was nearly set to make "Hannibal" last year at this time, when he was promoting "The Pacifier."

Back in 2002, shortly before the release of "XXX," Vin Diesel also said that production on "Hannibal" was right around the corner.

So, um, Vin... When do you think "Hannibal" will be shooting?

"It's been four years," Diesel laughs. "You tell me. I was about to ask you guys."

Whether or not Diesel is any closer to making his epic about the Carthaginian general is a bit ambiguous (issues of money, distribution and scheduling may still be up in the air), but he has used the passion project as an incentive to drop the extra weight he put on to play a middle-aged mobster in "Guilty." He also seems to be rolling up the frequent traveler points.

"One of the things that I attribute losing the weight to is this year's preparation for 'Hannibal,'" says Diesel, who has, indeed, lost his "Guilty" pot belly. "I went to Europe and traveled all over Europe starting in Cartagena, where Hannibal marries Imilce, this Spanish princess 200 years before the birth of Christ, and I traveled up to the summit of the Alps where Hannibal crossed from Gaul country, France, into Italy."

Diesel adds, "We've been scouting elephants for the last year, going all over Europe finding elephants that African elephants that are of worth. They can't be these anemic, anorexic elephants for Hannibal."

Initially set up at Revolution Studios, Diesel's "Hannibal" was supposed to be fast-tracked to avoid a rival Hannibal flick at Fox. Somehow, that urgency has vanished, but the extra time has fueled Diesel's interest.

"About a year ago I decided to direct the picture," he notes. "I met with Mel Gibson and I met with Bruce Davies, who helped him make 'Braveheart.' It's not often that somebody takes a stab at being an epic auteur. To be an epic auteur, to do a 'Braveheart,' is probably the hardest thing you can do, really."

In addition to prodding Gibson for directing advice, Diesel also hit the Oscar winner up for an ancient language scholar. Bill Fulco, who worked on "The Passion of the Christ," will translate Diesel's "Hannibal" script from English to Greek, Latin and Punic.

"This is going to be a tricky one," he admits. "This is gonna be one where I really put my head out on the chopping block, because it's been so close to me for so long."

While Diesel has all variety of doubts, he isn't concerned about the lingering stench from Oliver Stone's "Alexander."

"Not. In. The. Least."

"Find Me Guilty" opens on Friday, March 17. "Hannibal" will open when "Hannibal" opens.