Julian Schnabel is finally returning with another feature film, and honestly, In The Hand Of Dante already looks like one of the strangest and most ambitious movies Netflix has picked up in years. The first look from the film has now been revealed, showing an absolutely stacked cast led by Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, and even Martin Scorsese appearing onscreen. The movie had its first screening at the Venice Film Festival last year, but now it’s getting ready for a wider release through Netflix later this summer.
The film marks Schnabel’s first directorial effort since At Eternity’s Gate, the Oscar-nominated Vincent Van Gogh drama starring Willem Dafoe. This time though, the filmmaker is stepping into something much darker and far more surreal. Based on Nick Tosches’ 2002 novel, In The Hand Of Dante mixes crime, literature, violence, obsession, and historical fantasy into one complicated narrative that jumps between centuries.
Oscar Isaac Plays Two Roles Across Different Timelines
Oscar Isaac appears to be carrying the emotional and narrative weight of the film with dual performances. He plays modern-day New York writer Nick Tosches while also portraying legendary Italian poet Dante Alighieri during the 14th century timeline. The story reportedly follows Tosches after he becomes involved in a dangerous mission connected to a handwritten manuscript of The Divine Comedy. What starts as a literary obsession slowly turns into a violent underworld journey involving mafia connections and spiritual madness.
At the same time, the film cuts between Tosches’ present-day storyline and Dante’s own creative struggles centuries earlier while writing his masterpiece. According to the official synopsis, both men are unknowingly connected across time through themes of beauty, love, faith, and artistic obsession. It sounds incredibly dense, slightly chaotic, and exactly the kind of movie Julian Schnabel loves making.
The cast around Isaac is honestly ridiculous in the best way possible. Alongside Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa, the movie also includes Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, Benjamin Clementine, Paolo Bonacelli, Louis Cancelmi, and Al Pacino. Martin Scorsese appearing inside the cast list alone has already become one of the biggest talking points online since the first-look images dropped.
Netflix Bets Big On One Of Its Most Unusual Films Yet
Netflix reportedly acquired the film earlier this year after its festival debut, signaling strong confidence in the project despite how unconventional it sounds. The streamer is planning a theatrical release on June 12 before the movie officially lands on Netflix globally on June 24. Before reaching streaming audiences though, the film will also screen at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival.
Schnabel adapted the screenplay alongside Louise Kugelberg, while producers on the project include Jon Kilik, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Olmo Schnabel, Gabriele Moratti, Vito Schnabel, and Julian Schnabel himself. The movie’s visual style already appears heavily inspired by painterly textures and dreamlike imagery, which fits Schnabel’s artistic filmmaking approach perfectly.
What makes In The Hand Of Dante particularly interesting is how difficult it seems to categorize. It’s partly a literary drama, partly a gangster story, partly a historical fantasy, and possibly even a spiritual psychological thriller. That kind of genre blending could either become completely mesmerizing or wildly confusing for audiences. But with Oscar Isaac leading the madness and Netflix backing the release, the film already feels destined to become one of the year’s most heavily discussed streaming releases.
