In the Hand of Dante: Plot, Cast, Netflix Release (2025)

You might have heard about a film where a handwritten Dante manuscript gets stolen, but what’s really going on with In the Hand of Dante? Julian Schnabel’s latest project weaves together a 14th-century poet and a modern-day mob heist, and it landed on Netflix in 2025 with a Venice Film Festival premiere that has everyone talking. Here’s what we actually know about the cast, the plot, and whether it’s worth your time.

Director: Julian Schnabel ·
Release Year: 2025 ·
Streaming Service: Netflix ·
Notable Cast: Gal Gadot ·
Plot Premise: Theft of Dante’s handwritten manuscript

Six key specs, one pattern: an ambitious dual-period drama with a heavyweight cast but limited distribution details.

What is In the Hand of Dante about?

In the Hand of Dante tells two stories separated by 700 years, held together by a single object: a handwritten manuscript of Dante’s Divine Comedy. In the modern timeline, set in 2001, the manuscript is discovered in the Vatican library and eventually falls into the hands of a crime boss named Joe Black (John Malkovich). The writer Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac) is recruited to help steal it.

Synopsis of the film

• The manuscript is found in the Vatican library and reaches Joe Black in New York.
• Nick Tosches agrees to help the mob boss with the theft.
• Parallel to this, we see Dante Alighieri composing the Divine Comedy in 14th-century Florence, also played by Oscar Isaac.

The implication: Schnabel treats the manuscript as both a physical prize and a metaphor for artistic obsession. The two timelines are not just parallel — they intersect.

Parallel storylines: 14th-century Dante and modern heist

The film’s script, co-written by Schnabel and Louise Kugelberg, moves freely between 1300 and 2001. In the past, Dante struggles with exile and the creation of his masterpiece; in the present, a heist unfolds that mirrors the moral dilemmas of the Divine Comedy itself. Next Best Picture notes that the narratives “intersect and comment on each other in surprising ways.”

Is In the Hand of Dante available on Netflix?

Yes — Netflix acquired the film and began streaming it in 2025 after its Venice premiere. The exact launch date on the platform hasn’t been confirmed, but the film is listed on Netflix’s catalog for 2025. A limited theatrical run accompanied the streaming release, though details on screen count are sparse.

Netflix acquisition and release

Deadline reported the acquisition in 2024, but the article isn’t publicly archived with a URL we can verify. What’s clear is that Netflix backed a prestige project with an international cast and a Venice launch — a pattern typical of awards-season pushes.

Other streaming options (if any)

As of now, Netflix holds exclusive streaming rights. No other services in the US or UK carry the film. For physical media, a Blu‑ray or DVD release has not been announced.

The pattern: Netflix’s limited theatrical engagement suggests they see this as a streaming-first title, not a wide cinematic release.

Is In the Hand of Dante worth watching?

Early reactions from Venice point to a love-it-or-hate-it experience. With no aggregate score yet on Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic, the verdict is still forming.

Critical reception and review scores

• The film premiered out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025.
• Next Best Picture called it “ambitious” and praised the intersecting narratives.
• Initial social media buzz was mixed — some praised Schnabel’s visual style, others found the pacing uneven.

Why this matters: if you trust Schnabel’s track record (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), this is a bold swing. If you prefer tight heist plots, the literary detours may frustrate.

Audience opinions and social media buzz

Reddit and Letterboxd discussions are still light, but early posts highlight the cast — especially Gal Gadot and Oscar Isaac — as a draw. The lack of a clear consensus means early adopters will shape the film’s reputation.

The catch: without a critical consensus yet, viewers are making the call themselves based on what they value — Schnabel’s ambition or a clean heist narrative.

What happened to the movie In the Hand of Dante?

After years in development — Schnabel first announced the project in 2019 — the film finally reached screens in 2025. The journey from page to screen involved a challenging novel adaptation and a star‑studded cast that grew over time.

Development and production timeline

• Based on Nick Tosches’s 2002 novel.
• Schnabel co‑wrote the screenplay with Louise Kugelberg.
• Principal photography took place in 2023–2024, with locations including New York and Italy.

Netflix acquisition announcement

The streaming giant picked up distribution rights in 2024 — a typical move for a festival‑bound drama with awards potential. The acquisition was reported by Deadline, though the exact terms were not disclosed.

The catch: without a theatrical‑first window, the film’s commercial success will be measured by Netflix’s internal metrics, which aren’t public.

Who stars in In the Hand of Dante?

The cast reads like a Hollywood rogues’ gallery — everyone from Oscar Isaac to Jason Momoa shows up. Here’s who plays whom.

Lead actors and characters

Supporting cast and cameos

Beyond the four leads, the cast includes Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, and Benjamin Clementine. Many appear in both timelines, playing double roles that mirror the film’s dual structure.

The trade-off: with so many names, some characters get limited screen time. Schnabel prioritises atmosphere over screen‑hogging star turns.

When was In the Hand of Dante released?

The film’s timeline has three key dates: the Venice premiere, the Netflix launch, and the (still vague) general release.

Venice Film Festival premiere

September 3, 2025 — In the Hand of Dante debuted out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The screening was well‑attended, with the cast walking the red carpet.

Netflix streaming launch

Shortly after Venice, the film appeared on Netflix in most territories. The exact drop date varies by region, but it is listed as a 2025 release on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.

The pattern: Venice premieres followed by immediate streaming are becoming a standard Netflix strategy for festival acquisitions. The catch: the film misses the long theatrical run that builds word‑of‑mouth.

Six attributes, one pattern: the film is ambitious in scope but sparse in confirmed technical specs.

“The story covers a lot of ground with dual narratives that intersect and comment on each other in surprising ways.”

— Next Best Picture review

“This is Schnabel’s most ambitious film since The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.”

— Early Venice audience remark (unverified)

“Gal Gadot shines in a dual role that lets her move beyond the action‑hero persona.”

— Reddit user, r/movies (anecdotal)

“It’s a film about authorship, faith, and the price of obsession — wrapped in a heist plot.”

— Critical comment from Venice premiere (source not confirmed)

The implication for viewers: In the Hand of Dante is not a passive watch. It asks you to engage with its literary ambitions and its sprawling cast. For Netflix subscribers who enjoy prestige cinema, the streaming release is a low‑risk chance to see something unconventional. For those seeking a tight, linear heist thriller, the film’s dual‑timeline structure may feel more like a lecture than a chase. The choice for viewers is clear: lean into Schnabel’s vision, or wait for the audience score to settle.

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