Wikipedia

In the Hand of Dante (film)

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 a hidden Vatican cellar, 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.

In the Hand of Dante
American promotional release poster
Directed byJulian Schnabel
Written by
  • Julian Schnabel
  • Louise Kugelberg
Based on
In the Hand of Dante
by Nick Tosches
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoman Vasyanov
Edited by
Music byBenjamin Clementine
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • September 3, 2025 (2025-09-03) (Venice)
  • June 12, 2026 (2026-06-12) (United States)
  • June 24, 2026 (2026-06-24) (Netflix)
Running time
153 minutes[2]
Countries
  • Italy
  • United States[3]
Languages
  • English
  • Italian
Budget$25 million[4]

The film had its world premiere out of competition in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025.[5] It was theatrically released in the United States on June 12, 2026, followed by a streaming release on Netflix on June 24.

Premise

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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."[6]

Cast

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Production

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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.[7] In July 2011, it was announced Julian Schnabel would direct the film.[8] In September 2023, Oscar Isaac joined the cast of the film, replacing Depp.[9]

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.[10] 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.[4] In February 2024, it was reported that Scorsese would also play a role in the film.[11]

Principal photography began in October 2023 in Italy, with the project securing a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.[12]

Release

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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.[13] In March 2026, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[14] The film was released in the United States on June 12, 2026, before streaming on Netflix from June 24.[15][16]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 28% of 46 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.[17]

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."[18]

Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian gave the film 3/5 stars, singling out Gerard Butler for praise, and said the first 2/3 of the film was enjoyable but "in the end it flags."[19]

Matthew Joseph Jenner, writing in Venice 2025, describes the film as a bland failure that is “bloated” and “insincere" and "not even interesting enough for us to appreciate its audacity.” [20]

References

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  1. ↑ Romney, Jonathan (September 3, 2026). "'In The Hand Of Dante' review: Oscar Isaac takes a dual role in Julian Schnabel's offbeat biopic". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  2. ↑ "In the Hand of Dante (15)". British Board of Film Classification. June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2025 In the Hand of Dante". La Biennale di Venezia. 2025-07-16. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  4. 1 2 Vivarelli, Nick (November 17, 2023). "Julian Schnabel Reveals Al Pacino, John Malkovich, Benjamin Clementine, Sabrina Impacciatore Appear in Next Film 'In the Hand of Dante' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | In the Hand of Dante". La Biennale di Venezia. 2025-07-16. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  6. ↑ Deadline magazine. "‘In The Hand Of Dante’ Review: Oscar Isaac & Gal Gadot x 2 In Julian Schnabel’s Ambitious Art Epic – Venice Film Festival". By Pete Hammond. Sept, 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hewitt, Chris (December 12, 2008). "Johnny Depp Set For The Hand Of Dante". Empire. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (July 11, 2011). "Exclusive: Julian Schnabel Planning 'In The Hand Of Dante' With Johnny Depp As Next Project". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Mahdawi, Arwa (September 26, 2023). "'You only spent 10 minutes looking at my paintings?' Superstar artist (and terrifying interviewee) Julian Schnabe". The Guardian. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 16, 2023). "Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa & Gerard Butler To Lead Julian Schnabel's 'In The Hand Of Dante'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (2024-02-20). "Martin Scorsese to Play Dante Alighieri's Mentor in Julian Schnabel's Upcoming 'In the Hand of Dante' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  12. ↑ Mendelson, Scott (October 16, 2023). "Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa and Gerard Butler to Star in Julian Schnabel's 'The Hand of Dante'". The Wrap. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ Van der Sar, Ernesto (August 12, 2025). "Unreleased Movie Screeners Leak Online, Including Star-Studded 'In the Hand of Dante'". torrentfreak.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 19, 2026). "Julian Schnabel's 'In The Hand Of Dante' Acquired By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ Carpenter, Michael (May 21, 2026). "10 Must-Watch Titles Coming to Netflix in June 2026". Williamson County Source. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ntim, Zac (May 28, 2026). "'In The Hand Of Dante' Trailer: Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa & Martin Scorsese Lead Julian Schnabel's Historical Epic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ "In the Hand of Dante". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2026-06-28. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ↑ Hammond, Pete (2025-09-03). "'In The Hand Of Dante' Review: Oscar Isaac & Gal Gadot x 2 In Julian Schnabel's Ambitious Art Epic – Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  19. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (June 19, 2026). "In the Hand of Dante review – Gerard Butler is jaw-dropping in bizarre Renaissance mafia reverie". The Guardian. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ Matthew Joseph Jenner, In the Hand of Dante (Julian Schnabel) September 3, 2025
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