In the Hand of Dante: A Manuscript, a Mob, and the Divine
What In the Hand of Dante is about
This crime drama centers on an extraordinary artifact: a handwritten manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy discovered in the Vatican library. What happens next isn't a quiet academic affair. The manuscript makes its way into the criminal underworld of New York City, landing in the possession of a mob boss before eventually reaching Nick Tosches—the novelist himself. It's a story that blurs the line between high art and low crime, between spiritual text and street power. The film will explore how a 14th-century masterpiece becomes a pawn in a modern underworld, and what that collision reveals about desire, ownership, and meaning.
What we know so far
Julian Schnabel—the filmmaker behind The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and At Eternity's Gate—will direct and co-write the screenplay alongside Louise Kugelberg. The source material is Tosches' 2002 novel, which itself blended crime narrative with literary obsession. The cast is genuinely stacked. Oscar Isaac carries the lead, with supporting roles from Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Jason Momoa, Martin Scorsese, John Malkovich, and Al Pacino. That's not a typical ensemble—that's a statement. The film clocks in at 160 minutes, suggesting Schnabel won't rush the material. It's being produced by a coalition of studios including DreamCrew, MeMo Films, and Twin Productions, among others.
Why it's anticipated
What's striking is the sheer ambition of the pairing: Schnabel, who's spent his career exploring obsession and artistic vision (often with biographical weight), matched with material that's fundamentally about the collision of high culture and criminal desire. Tosches' novel isn't a straightforward crime story—it's a meditation on what we'll do to possess beauty, to hold meaning in our hands, to own the untouchable. Schnabel seems like exactly the wrong director for a mob story, which might be exactly why this works. The cast alone signals that this won't be a conventional genre exercise. When you get Pacino, Scorsese (acting, not directing), Malkovich, and Momoa in the same frame, you're not making a typical crime thriller.
I keep coming back to the central conceit: a manuscript. Not a person, not a secret, but a text—a physical object that embodies centuries of human meaning. That's the kind of thing Schnabel cares about.
Release and where to watch
In the Hand of Dante is expected in 2026 and hasn't been released yet. Streaming availability hasn't been confirmed, and rights agreements are still pending. Movie OTT will track where the film becomes available as announcements are made. Check the Where-to-Watch widget below for updates as we get closer to release.
Frequently asked questions
When is In the Hand of Dante releasing? The film is expected to arrive in 2026. An exact date hasn't been announced yet.
Is In the Hand of Dante out yet? No. It hasn't been released. We'll update you as the 2026 release date approaches.
Where will I be able to watch In the Hand of Dante? Streaming and theatrical availability haven't been confirmed yet. Movie OTT will track all platforms as rights deals are announced.
Who's in the cast? Oscar Isaac leads, with an ensemble including Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Jason Momoa, Martin Scorsese, John Malkovich, and Al Pacino.
Who's directing? Julian Schnabel directs and co-writes with Louise Kugelberg.
What to look forward to
A 160-minute film about a manuscript, a mob, and the power of a text to move people across centuries and continents. Schnabel's vision. Tosches' obsessive prose transformed into cinema. An ensemble that doesn't exist to fill seats—they're here because the story demands it. Don't miss the updates on Movie OTT as we get closer to 2026.
