MOVIE NEWS – Olivier Assayas’ latest feature, The Wizard of the Kremlin, is a political thriller that uses a fictional character to depict the final years of the Soviet Union, the turbulent birth of the Russian Federation, and the rise of a young Vladimir Putin. The film arrives in theaters on April 2.
Russia, early 1990s. In the middle of post-Soviet chaos, a gifted young man, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), is planning his future. He first works as an artist, then as a reality show producer, and eventually becomes the communications adviser to a rising KGB agent, Vladimir Putin (Jude Law). At the center of power, Baranov helps shape the new Russia, blurring the lines between truth and lies, faith and manipulation. Only the alluring Ksenia (Alicia Vikander) remains outside his control, the only person capable of pulling him away from this dangerous game. Years later, having withdrawn from public life, Baranov speaks out and reveals the dark secrets of the system he helped build.
The screenplay for The Wizard of the Kremlin was co-written by Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria, Irma Vep) and Emmanuel Carrère, based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling novel of the same name. Paul Dano stars in the lead role (There Will Be Blood, Prisoners, The Batman), while his love interest is played by Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl, Tomb Raider). Putin is portrayed by Academy Award nominee Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Closer, The Young Pope).
According to Le Monde, Jude Law dug deep into understanding Putin: “There is a huge amount of footage [of Putin], and once I begin something, I go down the rabbit hole and become completely obsessed with it.” The actor said portraying Putin was a challenge, mainly because the Russian leader is famously expressionless.
“As an actor, I often felt this inner contradiction when Olivier […] wanted me to show this or that emotion that gave the scene its power,” Law explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “I felt that conflict of showing almost nothing outwardly, while feeling an enormous amount inside, and honestly that was the key [to the character].”
Jude Law and director Olivier Assayas had already agreed during the preparation process that the goal was not a complete imitation of the Russian leader, and they did not want to apply a specific prosthetic mask to the actor’s face. “We worked with a fantastic hair and makeup team, and we had references from this period of Putin’s life. We were trying to find something familiar in me [in relation to Putin],” the actor recalled. Although he changed his appearance for the role, he speaks in his own voice throughout the film and does not attempt a Russian accent.
The Wizard of the Kremlin opens in Hungarian theaters on April 2, 2026, distributed by ADS Service.
Source: ADS
