Trending Now - Jude Law Stars in 'the Wizard of the Kremlin' Depicting Putin's Rise

WHO:

Deadline - Jude Law stars as Vladimir Putin in "The Wizard of the Kremlin."

NPR - Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a fictitious media advisor to Putin.

NPR - Jeffrey Wright portrays a Yale professor in the film.

NPR - Alicia Vikander plays a cynical actress in the film.

NPR - Boris Berezovsky, a real-life oligarch, is a character in the film.

WHAT:

Deadline - "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is a political thriller that explores the rise of Vladimir Putin.

Deadline - The film opens on 582 screens.

NPR - The film is based on a novel by Giuliano da Empoli and adapted by Olivier Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère.

NPR - The film depicts the transition of Russia from a Soviet dictatorship to a new form of czarism.

NPR - The character Vadim Baranov reflects on his career from the fall of communism to the rise of Putin.

WHERE:

Deadline - The film is set in post-Soviet Russia.

WHEN:

NPR - The film's narrative begins during the Gorbachev era and continues into the 1990s.

WHY:

NPR - The film illustrates the need for authority from the top in Russian society, as argued by Baranov to persuade Putin to run for office.

HOW:

NPR - Baranov transitions from selling electronics to becoming a media guru, creating reality shows and advising Putin.

NPR - The film portrays Baranov's manipulation of media to influence public perception and destabilize the West through social media.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 21:22 UTC)

In a new political thriller titled "The Wizard of the Kremlin," Jude Law stars as Vladimir Putin, while Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a fictional media advisor navigating the tumultuous landscape of post-Soviet Russia. The film, based on a novel by Giuliano da Empoli and adapted by Olivier Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, explores the transition from a Soviet dictatorship to a new form of czarism, beginning during the Gorbachev era and continuing into the 1990s. Set to open on 582 screens, the story illustrates Baranov's journey from selling electronics to becoming a media guru, as he manipulates public perception and advises Putin on the necessity of strong authority in Russian society.