Netflix isn’t messing around this time. They just dropped the trailer for Julian Schnabel’s new film, In the Hand of Dante, and honestly, it looks wild. The project made waves at the Venice Film Festival, picking up a rep for both its eye-popping visuals and a stacked cast that’s hard to ignore—even before the trailer started trending. Schnabel, whose style always grabs you by the collar, seems ready to blur all the lines between art, history, and underworld intrigue.
The story’s not one you can fit neatly into a box. It spins through two eras at once. You’ve got Oscar Isaac playing Nick Tosches, a jaded writer living in 21st-century New York. Things get dicey for him fast—a shady black-market crew ropes him in to figure out if this ancient treasure is actually Dante Alighieri’s handwritten manuscript of The Divine Comedy, and that job turns out to be a lot more dangerous than he bargained for. Tosches’ journey is steeped in skepticism and survival, with every move bringing him closer to the edge of both genius and madness.
At the exact same time, the film whisks you back to medieval Italy. Dante’s right in the thick of political chaos, wrestling with his own demons and desperately seeking inspiration as he tries to finish his immortal work. There’s this strange parallel between the two men: centuries apart, but both haunted by their obsessions—with art, beauty, love, and the myth that you might cheat death by creating something timeless. The film doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts, either; it’s honest about how ambition and creativity can consume you, for better or worse.
If the casting feels epic, that’s because it is. Oscar Isaac brings a new grit to Tosches, but he’s hardly alone. Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa are in the mix, adding charisma and muscle. Gerard Butler drops his signature intensity, while acting heavyweights like John Malkovich and—wait for it—Al Pacino join the fray too. Martin Scorsese even steps in front of the camera for a rare acting turn, which feels almost surreal. Toss in Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, and Benjamin Clementine, and you’ve got an ensemble that’s more a constellation than a mere cast.
Julian Schnabel’s approach is anything but conventional. Known for turning real-life stories into dreamlike journeys (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, anyone?), he brings that same painter’s touch here. The visuals pulse with texture and odd beauty, but he doesn’t let you off easy. Schnabel digs into big questions: Does making art really redeem you? Can the weight of a masterpiece lift or crush a soul? He leaves things messy, mysterious, and open-ended, inviting viewers to wrestle with those existential riddles.
Best part: you won’t need to wait long to see for yourself. Netflix has locked in a June 24th release date. Honestly, if you like your movies with both brains and guts—part thriller, part historical epic—this one’ll grab you. It’s already shaping up to be a conversation starter, and I’m guessing people will be picking it apart (in a good way) for months after it drops. If you’re after something more than just popcorn entertainment, In the Hand of Dante promises to deliver a fascinating, layered ride.
