Jason Momoa made headlines during the Venice Film Festival when he shared a playful moment with Oscar Isaac on the red carpet. The actors, who reunited for the premiere of In the Hand of Dante, drew attention after Momoa surprised Isaac with a lighthearted gesture that quickly spread across social media.
Here’s what happened at the event, the project that brought them together, and the reactions it sparked online.
Jason Momoa playfully spanks Oscar Isaac at Venice festival
On the red carpet, Jason Momoa loudly slapped Oscar Isaac’s butt as the two embraced, creating a viral clip that quickly circulated on social media platforms. The playful exchange prompted Isaac to react while continuing to greet fans and sign autographs at the event.
The actors previously worked together on Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve. In that film, Isaac played Leto Atreides and Momoa portrayed Duncan Idaho. They reunited for Julian Schnabel’s In the Hand of Dante, which features a cast including Gerard Butler, Gal Gadot, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, and Martin Scorsese. The Venice premiere ended with a nine-and-a-half-minute ovation, a tradition for warmly received films at the festival.
The video of the incident, described as a strong spank rather than a casual pat, highlighted Momoa’s gregarious and spontaneous style. Known for bringing energy to red carpets and interviews, the 46-year-old actor has also gone viral for dancing and wearing traditional Hawaiian attire on talk shows.
Fans widely shared the clip across social media, and the moment boosted the buzz around the film’s debut. It also highlighted the close bond between the two stars, a connection they built during the demanding production of Dune in the deserts of Jordan and Abu Dhabi.
Momoa will reprise his role in Dune 3, but Isaac will not return to the franchise. Instead, both actors continue to promote Schnabel’s drama, though its wide release date remains unconfirmed. In the meantime, their red-carpet interaction stands out as one of the festival’s most replayed viral moments.
