If you watch the trailer for In the Hand of Dante and feel slightly confused, you’re not alone. Netflix’s new film does not look like a typical crime thriller, historical drama, or literary adaptation. It is trying to be all three at once.
The movie arrives on Netflix on June 24, 2026, after years of development and plenty of curiosity surrounding its unusual premise. Directed by Julian Schnabel, the filmmaker behind The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, it is based on Nick Tosches’ cult novel of the same name.
What makes the film different is that it operates on two timelines simultaneously. In one story, Oscar Isaac plays writer Nick Tosches, who is pulled into a dangerous underworld after being asked to authenticate what may be the original handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. In the other timeline, Isaac also plays Dante himself as the famous poet struggles with faith, inspiration, and the creation of his masterpiece.
On top of that, the movie adds mafia figures, religious symbolism, philosophical debates, violence, romance, and surreal imagery into the mix. Clealry, this is not a movie designed for passive viewing or for a casual viewer.
Oscar Isaac leads the film, but he is surrounded by an unusually stacked ensemble that includes Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Jason Momoa, Al Pacino, Martin Scorsese, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Franco Nero.
For many, the biggest surprise may be Gerard Butler. Early reactions have highlighted his performance as one of the film’s strongest elements. He plays Louie, a ruthless mob enforcer in the modern storyline while also appearing as Pope Boniface VIII in the historical sections. Several critics have singled him out as the most memorable presence in the movie.
The visual approach is also unusual. Reports from festival screenings describe the modern storyline as largely black and white while the medieval Dante sequences are presented in color. The contrast is intended to separate the worlds while reinforcing the connection between them.
If you’re expecting something like The Da Vinci Code, there are similarities. Both stories revolve around historical texts, secrets, and powerful people trying to control them. But that comparison only goes so far. In the Hand of Dante appears far more interested in spirituality, obsession, and artistic expression than in solving puzzles. Several reviewers have described it as closer to an art-house fever dream than a conventional thriller.
This is probably not the movie to watch if you’re looking for a fast-moving Netflix action thriller. Early reviews suggest the film is deliberately dense and occasionally messy. Some critics admire its willingness to take risks, while others feel In the Hand of Dante movie becomes overly complicated. Even viewers discussing the trailer online seem fascinated by how strange and unpredictable the whole project looks.
But for viewers who enjoy films that blend history, crime, religion, and literary themes, that unpredictability may be the appeal.
The source material has long been considered difficult to adapt because it mixes real historical figures with fictional events and philosophical ideas. Instead of simplifying the novel, Schnabel appears to have embraced its complexity. That approach could make In the Hand of Dante one of the most talked-about Netflix releases of the summer, whether audiences love it or hate it.
The best way to go in is not as a straightforward thriller. Think of In the Hand of Dante as a crime story wrapped inside a meditation on art, faith, obsession, and legacy. That is where the movie seems most interested in spending its time.
What to Watch After In the Hand of Dante
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
A symbologist uncovers hidden religious secrets connected to centuries-old conspiracies.
The Ninth Gate (1999)
A rare book dealer investigates a mysterious manuscript tied to supernatural forces.
Silence (2016)
Martin Scorsese’s historical drama about faith, doubt, and spiritual endurance.
The Name of the Rose (1986)
A medieval murder mystery set inside a monastery filled with hidden knowledge.
The Green Knight (2021)
A visually rich and symbolic journey through myth, faith, and self-discovery.
Babylon Berlin (Series)
A crime drama that blends politics, culture, and moral decay in a turbulent historical setting.
The Young Pope (Series)
A visually ambitious exploration of religion, power, and personal belief.