In the hand of dante (2026) Movie Review and Story Overview
In the Hand of Dante is a 2026 English-language crime drama, mystery and thriller directed and co-written by acclaimed American filmmaker Julian Schnabel. The film is based on the 2002 novel In the Hand of Dante by American author Nick Tosches, published by Little, Brown and Company. The story combines a contemporary crime narrative with a historical account of Italian poet Dante Alighieri, creating two interconnected timelines separated by roughly seven centuries.
At the centre of the film is Nick Tosches, played by Oscar Isaac, a New York writer and Dante expert who becomes involved in a dangerous mission surrounding a manuscript believed to be Dante Alighieri's handwritten The Divine Comedy. Nick is summoned by a Mafia boss because of his knowledge of Dante and is asked to authenticate the priceless manuscript. The assignment soon becomes much more dangerous when Nick becomes involved in an attempt to steal the manuscript.
The film simultaneously follows Dante Alighieri in the 14th century, also portrayed by Oscar Isaac. Dante is shown struggling with the creation of his greatest work while dealing with political conflict, exile, spiritual questions and his relationship with Gemma Donati, played by Gal Gadot. Gerard Butler appears in dual roles as the ruthless modern-day assassin Louie and Pope Boniface VIII, while Gal Gadot also portrays Giulietta in the contemporary storyline.
Julian Schnabel, who is also a painter, approaches the story as a meeting point between literature, visual art, spirituality, crime and human desire. The contemporary storyline uses black-and-white imagery, while the Dante sections are presented in colour, creating a visual distinction between the modern world of organized crime and the historical world of the poet.
The supporting ensemble gives the film an unusually large collection of established performers. Al Pacino plays Uncle Carmine, Martin Scorsese appears as Isaiah, and Jason Momoa portrays Rosario. Sabrina Impacciatore plays Dr. Susanna Pulice, Franco Nero appears as the older Don Lecco, and Benjamin Clementine plays Mephistopheles.
The film was produced by a group that includes Jon Kilik, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Gabriele Bebe Moratti, Julian Schnabel, Olmo Schnabel, Vito Schnabel and others, with production involving companies including DreamCrew Entertainment, MeMo Films, TWIN Productions, Rahway Road Productions and Mad Gene Media.
Julian Schnabel's In the Hand of Dante represents his return to feature filmmaking with a story that is particularly connected to his longstanding interest in artists and creative figures. Schnabel previously directed films including Basquiat, Before Night Falls, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and At Eternity's Gate. His filmography frequently explores artists, writers and individuals confronting creative or personal struggles.
Instead of presenting a conventional historical biography of Dante, the film moves between the 14th-century poet and the modern-day Nick Tosches, allowing the two characters to function as parallel figures whose lives are connected by their search for artistic meaning, love and transcendence.
Oscar Isaac's performance is particularly central to the film because he portrays both Nick Tosches and Dante Alighieri. The two characters exist in different historical worlds but are connected through their relationship with literature and creativity. The modern Nick becomes involved with organized crime because of the manuscript, while the historical Dante struggles with the creation of The Divine Comedy and the political and personal circumstances surrounding him.
The film also brings together a remarkably prominent supporting cast. Gal Gadot plays two connected roles, Gerard Butler appears in two contrasting characters, and the ensemble includes John Malkovich, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa and Martin Scorsese. Scorsese's participation is particularly notable because he appears as Isaiah, while the production also lists him as an executive producer.
The modern sections are largely presented in black and white, contrasting with the colour imagery used for the Dante narrative. The approach creates a deliberate distinction between the contemporary criminal world, where the manuscript becomes an object of greed and violence, and the historical world in which Dante is attempting to create a work of lasting spiritual and artistic significance.
Its theatrical release was followed by a global Netflix release on 24 June 2026, making it accessible to audiences including viewers in India, where Netflix lists English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu audio options. The film's critical response has been mixed: some critics highlighted its visual ambition, performances and unusual combination of literary and crime elements, while others found its long runtime, complex structure and stylistic excesses difficult to sustain.
Audience ResponseIn the Hand of Dante is an ambitious literary crime drama that connects a modern-day manuscript hunt with the life and creative struggles of Dante Alighieri. Through Oscar Isaac's dual performance, the film creates a direct thematic link between Nick Tosches and Dante, while the parallel timelines explore recurring ideas of artistic creation, love, violence, faith, greed and the search for something that can survive beyond a person's lifetime.
Released theatrically in June 2026 and subsequently on Netflix, the film stands as Julian Schnabel's distinctive cinematic interpretation of Nick Tosches' novel. Its Venice and Tribeca festival appearances, international cast and highly stylized visual approach make it a notable literary adaptation of 2026, while its reception demonstrates the varied responses that can accompany an unconventional and structurally ambitious film.
Final VerdictHis filmography frequently explores artists, writers and individuals confronting creative or personal struggles. With In the Hand of Dante, he turns his attention to Dante Alighieri while also adapting Nick Tosches' fictionalized version of a modern writer's obsession with the poet and his legendary manuscript.
This dual structure allows the film to move between crime thriller, historical drama and artistic meditation rather than remaining within one conventional genre. The combination of established Hollywood actors and European performers contributes to the film's international character and its movement between New York and historical Italy.
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