Gerard Butler stars in ‘In the Hand of Dante’, an ambitious crime drama that arrived on OTT on June 24, 2026. Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film brings together an ensemble cast to tell a story spanning two timelines. Gerard Butler plays dual roles across the film’s parallel narratives.
Gerard Butler plays dual roles in ‘In the Hand of Dante’
In ‘In the Hand of Dante,’ Gerard Butler plays two characters. In the present-day storyline set in New York, Butler portrays Louie, a hitman and fixer. In the historical timeline set in 14th-century Italy, Butler plays Pope Bonifacio VIII.According to Coming Soon, Butler plays Louie and delivers some of the movie’s best dialogue as he rides alongside Nick, helping him with manuscript-related endeavours. Butler steals scenes with his over-the-top style, and the actor is credited for playing against type, acting wilder on-screen than audiences have seen him before.
Gerard Butler as Louie: the hit man character in ‘In the Hand of Dante’
The film follows scholar Nick Tosches, who is called upon to authenticate what may be Dante’s original manuscript of ‘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.
Gerard Butler plays Louie, a hitman and fixer who guides Nick Tosches through the dangerous criminal underworld surrounding the mysterious manuscript.image credit (Gerard Butler Instagram))
Gerard Butler as Pope Bonifacio VIII in the historical timeline
In the 14th-century sequences, Gerard Butler takes on the role of Pope Bonifacio VIII, a historical pope known for his corruption and moral failings. This character operates in the Italian timeline where the poet Dante lived and created his masterpiece. According to the storyline of the film, Pope Bonifacio VIII is the symbol of institutional corruption and abuse of religious power. His appearance in the historical timeline mirrors his character, Louie in the modern storyline, indicating that greed, corruption and moral compromise are universal human traits spanning generations. The Pope character brings an extra dimension to the movie’s examination of the use of power and authority throughout history for personal gain.
In the film’s 14th-century storyline, Gerard Butler takes on the role of Pope Bonifacio VIII, one of the key figures in the historical narrative.image credit (Gerard Butler Instagram)
‘In the Hand of Dante’ cast: Gerard Butler joins Oscar Isaac and ensemble stars
As per the reports, the movie stars Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, Benjamin Clementine, Paolo Bonacelli, Martin Scorsese and Al Pacino. Some of the 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 distinguishes between the two timelines through visual means. The present-day New York scenes are filmed in black-and-white, while the historical Italian sequences are shot in colour. This visual distinction highlights the different settings and time periods of the narrative.
Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film follows parallel stories unfolding 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 theatrically released in the United States on June 12, 2026, followed by its OTT release on June 24, 2026. The project is based on Nick Tosches’ 2002 novel of the same name, with director Julian Schnabel co-writing the screenplay alongside Louise Kugelberg.Stream ‘In the Hand of Dante’ on Netflix.
