Gerard Butler stars in ‘In the Hand of Dante’, a crime drama that hits OTT on June 24, 2026. Directed by Julian Schnabelthe film brings together musicians to tell a story that spans two timelines. Gerard Butler plays two roles in the film’s parallel story.
Gerard Butler plays two roles in “In the Hand of Dante”
In ‘Dante’s Hand,’ Gerard Butler plays two characters. In a modern-day story set in New York, Butler portrays Louie, a successful businessman and organizer. In the historical drama set in 14th century Italy, Butler plays Pope Bonifacio VIII.According to Coming Soon, Butler plays Louie and provides some of the film’s best dialogue as he rides alongside Nick, helping him with manuscript-related tasks. Butler steals the show with his over-the-top looks, and the actor is known for playing against type, taking on more challenging roles than audiences have seen him before.
Gerard Butler as Louie: famous in “In the Hand of Dante”
The film follows scholar Nick Tosches, who is called in to authenticate what may be Dante’s manuscript of ‘The Divine Comedy’. Rather than prove it, Nick steals the manuscript and embarks on a journey into the underworld. Gerard Butler’s character Louie becomes his companion on this journey, helping him deal with the dangers that follow.
Gerard Butler plays Louie, a hitman and mastermind who guides Nick Tosches through a dangerous crime spree based on secret documents. Photograph (Gerard Butler Instagram)
Gerard Butler as Pope Bonifacio VIII in history
Set in the 1400s, Gerard Butler takes on the role of Pope Bonifacio VIII, a pope notorious for his corruption and immorality. This culture works in the Italian time frame where the poet Dante lived and created his art. According to the story of the film, Pope Bonifacio VIII is a symbol of social corruption and abuse of religious power. His appearance in the historical series reflects his appearance, Louie in the modern story, showing that greed, corruption and compromise have shaped the morals and values ​​of people around the world from generation to generation. Pope brings an additional dimension to this film’s analysis of the use of power and authority throughout history for personal gain.
In this film set in the 14th century, Gerard Butler takes on the role of Pope Bonifacio VIII, one of the most important figures in history. Photograph (Gerard Butler Instagram)
‘In the Hand of Dante’: Gerard Butler joins the cast Oscar Isaac and collecting stars
According to reports, 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 actors are playing two characters: one from the present and one from the past.
Julian Schnabel’s Appearance in ‘In the Hand of Dante’
Director Julian Schnabel differentiates between these two periods through visual techniques. Contemporary scenes of New York are painted in black and white, while historical scenes in Italy are painted in color. This visual contrast reflects the different settings and timelines of the story.
Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film follows parallel stories set in present 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 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-berging Julian Louisting Kugel.Download ‘In the Arms of Dante’ on Netflix.