Time, Art, and the Mob: Netflix Drops Official Trailer for Julian Schnabel’s ‘In the Hand of Dante’

Summary

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for In the Hand of Dante, a historical crime drama from Julian Schnabel, the filmmaker nominated for an Academy Award.
This epic story, inspired by Nick Tosches’ 2002 novel, covers 700 years of history. It links a modern-day mafia robbery in New York City with the life of the 14th-century poet Dante Alighieri.
Oscar Isaac stars in a large cast, playing two roles: Nick Tosches, a writer today, and Dante, the famous poet from Italy.

After years of work, Julian Schnabel’s new film, In the Hand of Dante, is now available on Netflix. The trailer reveals a sweeping historical crime story that blends a love of literature with the harsh world of organized crime. Based on Nick Tosches’ popular 2002 novel, the film—from the director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and At Eternity’s Gate—is a visually stunning look at the power of artistic obsession, featuring a talented cast and Oscar Isaac in a remarkable double role.

The story jumps between two time periods, seven centuries apart. In the 1300s, we see Dante Alighieri, the famous poet, searching for inspiration for his epic poem, The Divine Comedy. Meanwhile, in present-day New York City, a writer named Nick is pulled out of hiding by a mafia boss. Still grieving a personal loss, Nick is given a dangerous mission: to verify and steal what’s thought to be the original handwritten version of Dante’s masterpiece.

Schnabel gathered a remarkable group of international actors for this ambitious project. The trailer showcases impressive moments with Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler – who plays two roles, including a dangerous assassin and Pope Bonifacio VIII – John Malkovich, Al Pacino, and Jason Momoa. Film fans will also be excited to see Martin Scorsese, the famous director, acting in the film; he sports a noticeable beard while portraying Dante’s teacher in the 14th-century scenes.

The film debuted at the 2025 Venice Film Festival to a very mixed response from critics, who were particularly divided by its unconventional style and fictionalized storytelling. However, Netflix quickly bought the rights to distribute it worldwide this spring and is now releasing it as a key film during the summer months.

The new literary thriller, In the Hand of Dante, will premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival before a limited release in U.S. cinemas on June 12th. It will then be available to stream globally on Netflix starting June 24th, 2026.

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