Move over, Multiverse—there is a new era of time-bending cinema, and it involves a lot of leather, ancient poetry, and some very familiar faces.
Director Julian Schnabel is known for his deep dives into the lives of legendary artists, but his latest project, In the Hand of Dante, is officially breaking the internet. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, the film has fans buzzing over its “double-vision” casting and a lineup that feels like a fever dream.
The film follows two parallel stories set years apart. In one timeline, we’re in the th century following the legendary poet Dante Alighieri as he writes The Divine Comedy. In the other, set in , we follow a Dante expert named Nick Tosches who gets mixed up with the mob over a stolen manuscript.
The twist that has social media in a frenzy? The lead actors are playing characters in both timelines.
Oscar Isaac leads the charge, pulling double duty as both the iconic poet Dante and the modern-day scholar Nick. TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are already flooded with clips of Isaac’s transformation, with fans praising his ability to jump from a soulful historical figure to a gritty, noir-style lead.
Joining him is the incomparable Gal Gadot, who plays the woman Isaac’s character falls for in both the past and the present. It’s a romantic “meant to be” trope that spans centuries, and the chemistry between the Moon Knight and Wonder Woman stars is already being hailed as a highlight of the festival.
But the surprises don’t stop with the leads. In a casting move that no one saw coming, action star Gerard Butler appears as a brutal hitman named Louie—and also plays the Pope. Yes, you read that right! Fans on Instagram are calling it the most “unrecognizable” role of Butler’s career.
The “eccentric” ensemble also includes:
Jason Momoa as a shady character named Rosario.
Jason Momoa as a shady character named Rosario.
Al Pacino offering sage wisdom in flashbacks.
Al Pacino offering sage wisdom in flashbacks.
John Malkovich as a menacing mafia kingpin.
John Malkovich as a menacing mafia kingpin.
Martin Scorsese (sporting a massive gray beard!) as a th-century mentor.
Martin Scorsese (sporting a massive gray beard!) as a th-century mentor.
The film uses a striking visual trick to keep the eras straight: the s are lush and vibrant with color, while the “mob world” is shot in gritty black-and-white. It’s a bold artistic choice that highlights the “brutal and greedy landscape” of the modern world compared to the artistic beauty of the past.
While the plot is being described as “all over the map” and “high opera,” the sheer ambition of the project is what’s winning over audiences. In an era of sequels and reboots, a violent, spiritual, time-traveling epic about a -year-old poem is the kind of “big swing” that social media lives for.
Whether you’re here for the “Dante-core” aesthetic or just want to see Martin Scorsese acting alongside Jason Momoa, In the Hand of Dante is proof that art—and a starry cast—can still keep us guessing.
Would you watch Oscar Isaac and Gal Gadot navigate a -year-old love story? Let us know in the comments!
