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Jude Law Plays Young Putin in 'Wizard of the Kremlin'
The film explores Vladimir Putin's rise in post-Soviet Russian politics through the eyes of advisor Vadim Baranov, with a Venice premiere and global release planned.
- Gaumont released the trailer for The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Jude Law as Vladimir Putin; it opens January 21, 2026.
- Based on Giuliano da Empoli's novel, Olivier Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère adapted the story to probe post-Soviet Byzantine politics, focusing on strategist Vadim Baranov remaking a KGB spy into a new politician.
- Supporting cast includes Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, inspired by Vladislav Surkov, Alicia Vikander as Ksenia, and Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright in oligarch and journalist roles.
- The film enjoyed a 12-minute ovation in Venice and has played Toronto, San Sebastian and London, with a Red Sea Film Festival screening soon; Gaumont handles French distribution and international sales, and RIA Novosti reported possible Russian screenings.
- Deadline critic Damon Wise noted The Wizard of the Kremlin is timely and offers a warning to the West about how that state of affairs came to be.
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French studio Gaumont has released the first official trailer for The Wizard of Kremlin, a political drama about the early days of Vladimir Putin's career and his rise to power.
·Belgrade, Serbia
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Jude Law’s Putin film, ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin,’ now has a movie trailer
The French film studio Gaumont has released the first trailer for The Wizard of the Kremlin, a movie about Vladimir Putin’s early political career and rise to the presidency. Directed by Olivier Assayas, the film features Jude Law as Putin.
·Riga, Latvia
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The adaptation event of Giuliano da Empoli's novel, with the American actor in the role of Vladimir Putin, gives a layer in the race for the Nobel Peace Prize.
·Paris, France
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 29%
R 28%
Factuality
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