Jude Law is almost unrecognisable as Vladimir Putin in the upcoming political thriller The Wizard of the Kremlin. The film, directed by Olivier Assayas and co-written with Emmanuel Carrère, is adapted from Giuliano da Empoli's 2022 novel.
The story follows Vadim Baranov, a spin doctor played by Paul Dano, who helps shape Putin's rise to power in 1990s Russia. Baranov is a fictional character loosely based on real-life politician Vladislav Surkov.
The cast also includes Alicia Vikander as Baranov's wife Ksenia, Tom Sturridge as an oligarch, Jeffrey Wright as an American journalist, and Will Keen as Boris Berezovsky. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August, receiving a 12-minute ovation.
The Wizard of the Kremlin is scheduled for release on 21 January 2026.
