The Wizard of the Kremlin: Jude Law transforms into Vladimir Putin in the film about the Russian President

The Wizard of the Kremlin is the forthcoming film in the political thriller genre. Titled Le Mage du Kremlin in French, it is directed by Olivier Assayas, while Olivier Delbosc is the producer. The film is written and adapted for the screen by Assayas as well as Emmanuel Carrère.

Here's the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:

"Russia, in the early 1990’s is the aftermath of the USSR’s collapse. In a new world that promises freedom and flirts with chaos, a young artist-turned-TV producer, Vadim Baranov, unexpectedly becomes the spin doctor of a promising member of the FSB (ex-KGB), Vladimir Putin."

The film stars Jude Law in the lead role as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Jude Law portrays Vladimir Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin

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Recently, the first look at Jude Law as Russian President Vladimir Putin from The Wizard of the Kremlin was released. An English language feature debut of French director Olivier Assayas, the film focuses on Putin's rise in post-Soviet Union Russia with the help of a spin doctor, Vadim Baranov. It is adapted from Giuliano da Empoli's 2022 namesake novel.

The film will have its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2025. Here's a list of its cast members:

Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov
Jude Law as Vladimir Putin
Alicia Vikander as Ksenia
Tom Sturridge as Dmitri Sidorov
Jeffrey Wright as an American author
Will Keen as Boris Berezovsky

Speaking to Variety, Assayas spoke about Law's portrayal of Putin. He said,

“[Jude Law] completely transformed and reinvented (Putin) and made him very believable. He was very intimidated at first. He wanted to talk to Giuliano to get answers from someone who had a precise historical knowledge of the facts, who could also give him pointers on how to approach Putin, but I think he mainly watched a lot of newsreels.”

The director further spoke about the film's theme. He stated:

“I have always felt that, deep down, this question of evil and its ambiguity is something that belongs to cinema and has always belonged to cinema. [It was Alfred Hitchcock] who said that the more successful the villain is, the better the film.”

He then revealed that the entirety of The Wizard of the Kremlin was shot in Latvia, given the cheaper production expenses compared to other countries. The production banners include Gaumont, Curiosa Films, and Pierce Capital Entertainment. It's being distributed by Gaumont in France.

The makers are yet to reveal the film's theatrical release date.