Gerard Butler stars in ‘In the Hand of Dante’, an ambitious crime drama that hits OTT on June 24, 2026. Julian SchnabelThe film brings together an ensemble cast to tell a story spanning two timelines. Gerard Butler plays a dual role in the film’s parallel narrative.
Gerard Butler plays a double role in ‘In the Hand of Dante’
‘In the Hand of Dante’ Gerard Butler plays two roles. In the present-day story set in New York, Butler portrays Louis, a hitman and fixer. In the historical timeline set in 14th century Italy, Butler plays Pope Boniface VIII.According to Coming Soon, Butler plays Louie and delivers some of the movie’s best dialogue while riding with Nick, helping him with manuscript-related endeavors. Butler steals scenes with his over-the-top style, and the actor is credited for playing against type, playing more on-screen than audiences have seen him before.
Gerard Butler as Louis: The hit man character in ‘In the Hand of Dante’
The film follows scholar Nick Toshes, who is called upon to authenticate what may be the original manuscript of Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’. Instead of verifying it, Nick steals the manuscript and embarks on a journey through the criminal underworld. Gerard Butler’s character Louie becomes his companion on this journey, helping him navigate the dangerous situations that follow.
In the film’s 14th-century story, Gerard Butler plays Pope Bonifacio VIII, one of the central figures in the historical narrative. Image Credit (Gerard Butler Instagram)
‘In the Hand of Dante’ Cast: Gerard Butler joins Oscar Isaac and constellations
According to reports, the movie stars Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impaciatore, Franco Nero, Benjamin Clementine, Paolo Bonacelli, Martin Scorsese and Al Pacino. Some cast members are playing two characters: one from the modern day timeline and one from the historical timeline
Julian Schnabel’s visual approach to ‘In the Hand of Dante’
Director Julian Schnabel differentiates between the two timelines visually. The present-day New York scenes are filmed in black-and-white, while the historical Italian sequences are shot in color. This visual difference highlights the different settings and time periods of the narrative.
Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film follows parallel stories across modern day New York and 14th century Italy.
‘In the Hand of Dante’ Release Date and Production Details
The film had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025. It was released theatrically in the United States on June 12, 2026, followed by its OTT release on June 24, 2026. The project is based on the 2002 novel by Nick Toches, co-directed by screen-play director Zutinwicz. Kugelberg.Stream ‘In the Hand of Dante’ on Netflix.
