Director Schnabel Defends Gadot, Butler Amid Venice Boycott Calls

At the Venice Film Festival, director Julian Schnabel defended his decision to cast Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler in his new film In the Hand of Dante amid calls from the Venice4Palestine group to boycott the actors due to their perceived support for Israel. Schnabel emphasized that his casting choices were based solely on their artistic merits and expressed a desire to focus on the film rather than the political controversy. Neither Gadot nor Butler attended the festival, with Gadot's representatives stating she was never confirmed to appear. The film, which stars Oscar Isaac in dual roles alongside a star-studded cast including Al Pacino and John Malkovich, explores a violent quest to authenticate Dante's Divine Comedy manuscript, weaving narratives across centuries. Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera also dismissed calls for exclusion, affirming the festival's commitment to open debate. This controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict and its impact on cultural events.