Netflix Wins Bidding War...

Netflix Wins Bidding War for Julian Schnabel’s ‘In the Hand of Dante’; Oscar Isaac and Massive Star-Studded Ensemble Lead 700-Year Epic

LOS ANGELES — Netflix has officially emerged as the victor in a high-stakes bidding war for the global distribution rights to In the Hand of Dante, the sprawling, time-bending crime epic from Oscar-nominated director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly).

The acquisition, confirmed by the streamer on Thursday 19th March brings one of the most star-studded ensembles in recent memory to the platform. The film stars Oscar Isaac in a dual lead role, alongside Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, and Academy Award legends Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese (the latter making a rare on-screen appearance as an elderly sage).

A Seven-Century Odyssey

Based on the 2002 novel by Nick Tosches, the film weaves together two parallel narratives separated by 700 years.

1. The 14th Century: Follows the poet Dante Alighieri (Oscar Isaac) as he journeys to Sicily to finish his masterwork, The Divine Comedy, while seeking advice from a wise mentor named Isaiah (Martin Scorsese).

2. The 21st Century: Follows a modern-day version of the author, Nick Tosches (also played by Isaac), who is recruited by a mob boss (John Malkovich) and a volatile assassin named Louie (Gerard Butler) to authenticate a stolen original manuscript of Dante’s work.

“A New York author in the 21st century and Dante Alighieri himself in the 14th century are unknowingly connected through time and their obsessive quest for love, beauty, and the divine,” Netflix stated in its official logline.

The "Unlikely" Ensemble

The production has drawn significant attention for its eclectic casting, particularly for placing "blockbuster" action stars in a dense, arthouse-leaning drama.

• Jason Momoa: Portrays Rosario, a menacing, Italian-speaking killer who pursues Tosches in the modern-day timeline.

• Gal Gadot: Appears in dual roles as Gemma Donati (Dante's wife) and Giulietta (a publishing employee who becomes Nick's modern-day muse).

• Al Pacino: Appears in a standout cameo as Uncle Carmine, a figure from the New York underworld.

• Gerard Butler: Takes on a "nasty" and physically unrecognizable turn as Louie, an unpredictable hitman who accompanies Isaac’s character on his bloody journey through Italy.

[Table: ‘In the Hand of Dante’ Production Snapshot]

From the Lido to the Living Room

The film held its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025, where Schnabel was honored with the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award.

Early reviews from the festival have been polarized, with some critics praising Schnabel’s "dreamy," painterly cinematography (shot by Roman Vasyanov) and Isaac’s powerful dual performance, while others found the 153-minute runtime and "pompous" historical sequences challenging. Despite a current 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on early festival reviews, the film is being heralded as a "must-watch" for its pure ambition and visual scale.

The Long Road to Completion

The project has been a labor of love for Schnabel, who originally planned to adapt the book with Johnny Depp nearly two decades ago. After years in "development hell," the film finally secured an interim agreement during the 2023 strikes to begin filming on location in Italy.

The Netflix acquisition marks a significant "win" for the streamer as it seeks to anchor its late-2026 prestige slate. While an official streaming date has not been announced, industry insiders expect a limited theatrical run in the fall to qualify the film for the 99th Academy Awards.