In the Hand of Dante (film)
2025 film by Julian Schnabel
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In the Hand of Dante is a 2025 drama film directed by Julian Schnabel, who co-wrote the screenplay with Louise Kugelberg, based on the 2002 novel by Nick Tosches. It follows a handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy found in the Vatican library, which makes its way to a mob boss in New York City, ending up in the hands of Nick Tosches. It stars Oscar Isaac alongside an ensemble cast that includes Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore, Benjamin Clementine, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and Jason Momoa.
- Julian Schnabel
- Louise Kugelberg
- Jon Kilik
- Francesco Melzi d'Eril
- Olmo Schnabel
- Gabriele Bebe Moratti
- Vito Schnabel
- Julian Schnabel
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| Directed by | Julian Schnabel |
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| Cinematography | Roman Vasyanov |
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| Music by | Benjamin Clementine |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
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Running time | 153 minutes |
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| Budget | $25 million[3] |
The film had its world premiere out of competition in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025.[4] It is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on June 12, 2026, followed by a streaming release on Netflix on June 24.
Premise
Deadline magazine summarizes the premise of the film stating: "(Oscar) Isaac plays Dante in sequences shot in color in Italy that explore his efforts in writing the classic and looking for mystical knowledge. He also plays author Nick Tosches, whose 2002 book In the Hand of Dante makes him out to be a renowned Dante expert employed by a mafia don to confirm its existence and then steal it for him. Those sequences, quite violent in parts, are shot in black-and-white to show contrast between the more artistic world of the 1400s vs. today’s brutal and greedy landscape where art is just a commodity for some. He’s accompanied by ace assassin, Louie (Gerard Butler), and another goon, Lefty (Louis Cancelmi). The don, Joe Black (John Malkovich), sends them off to the Vatican, where supposedly the original manuscript actually could be verified and brought back to him."[5]
Cast
- Oscar Isaac as Nick Tosches / Dante Alighieri
- Gal Gadot as Giulietta / Gemma Donati
- Gerard Butler as Louie / Pope Boniface VIII
- John Malkovich as Joe Black
- Martin Scorsese as Isaiah, Alighieri's mentor
- Al Pacino as Uncle Carmine
- Jason Momoa as Rosario
- Louis Cancelmi as Lefty / Guido da Polenta
- Sabrina Impacciatore as Dr. Susanna Pulice
- Franco Nero as Don Lecco
- Benjamin Clementine as Mephistopheles
- Paolo Bonacelli as the Adult Priest of Alcamo
- Lorenzo Zurzolo as Don Lecco (33)
- Claudio Santamaria as Archivist (Fabriano)
- Guido Caprino as Guido Cavalcanti
- Mohamed Zouaoui as Tunisian Bartender
Production
In December 2008, it was announced Johnny Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil had acquired rights to In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches, with Depp eying to star and produce.[6] In July 2011, it was announced Julian Schnabel would direct the film.[7] In September 2023, Oscar Isaac joined the cast of the film, replacing Depp.[8]
In October 2023, it was announced that Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, and Gal Gadot had joined the cast of the film, with Martin Scorsese set to executive produce.[9] In November 2023, Al Pacino, John Malkovich, Benjamin Clementine, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, Claudio Santamaria, Guido Caprino, Paolo Bonacelli and Dora Romano were announced to star in the film.[3] In February 2024, it was reported that Scorsese would also play a role in the film.[10]
Principal photography began in October 2023 in Italy, with the project securing a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.[11]
Release
The film had its world premiere out of competition in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025. One month before its Venice premiere, it leaked online.[12] In March 2026, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[13] The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on June 12, 2026, before streaming on Netflix from June 24.[14][15]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 45% of 20 critics' reviews are positive.[16]
Pete Hammond for Deadline writes the film has an "unpredictable, if uneven, screenplay that is all over the map" and that the movie "bites off possibly more than it can chew", but lauds Schnabel for taking a "big swing."[17]
