by Alex Billington
May 29, 2026
Source: YouTube
“Every man’s only savior dwells within himself.” Netflix has debuted their trailer for the film titled In the Hand of Dante, the latest feature made by acclaimed filmmaker Julian Schnabel (director of Basquiat, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, At Eternity’s Gate). Unfortunately it’s a disaster. This premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival last year and was regarded by most critics as the worst film at the fest (currently at 43% on RT) –a jumbled mess of narratives and hilariously awful performances. In the Hand of Dante follows the parallel lives of a NYC author (Nick Tosches) in the 21st century who goes on a violent journey after he is recruited by a mafia don to steal Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” written in the poet’s own hand, and Dante in the 14th century seeking inspiration to write his most important work – each man unknowingly connected through time and their obsessive quest for love, beauty, and the divine. Starring Oscar Isaac in both roles as Nick & Dante, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler (as a hilariously ruthless mobster enforcer), John Malkovich, Louis Cancelmi, Franco Nero, Benjamin Clementine, Paolo Bonacelli, Sabrina Impacciatore, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and Jason Momoa. What a bonkers cast! Alas I wish this movie was any good, it really seems like a total waste of great talent across the board.
Here’s the full official trailer (+ poster) for Julian Schnabel’s film In the Hand of Dante, from YouTube:
Time & space collide in parallel lives across 700 years when author Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac) is drawn into a violent quest to confirm the origins of a manuscript believed to be Dante’s “The Divine Comedy”, written in the poet’s own hand. After the death of his daughter, Nick is summoned from self-imposed exile by a mafia don (John Malkovich) for his expertise on the Italian writer. With the help of an unpredictable assassin named Louie (Gerard Butler), they embark on a dark, murderous journey to steal & authenticate the priceless work. Moving between the 21st and 14th centuries, In the Hand of Dante weaves together the lives of Nick and Dante in their obsessive search for love, beauty, and the divine. In the Hand of Dante is directed by award-winning artist / filmmaker Julian Schnabel, director of the films Basquiat, Before The Night Falls, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Miral, and At Eternity’s Gate previously. The screenplay is written by Julian Schnabel & Louise Kugelberg. Based on the novel of the same name by Nick Tosches. It’s produced by Jon Kilik, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Olmo Schnabel, Gabriele Bebe Moratti, Vito Schnabel, Julian Schnabel. This initially premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival last year. Netflix debuts Schnabel’s In the Hand of Dante streaming on Netflix worldwide starting June 24th, 2026 coming up. Who’s intrigued?
