Jude Law to Play Vladimir Putin in New Explosive Biopic Film

French filmmaker Olivier Assayas isn’t afraid of dangerous men — and his latest project might be his boldest yet. In his upcoming film The Wizard of the Kremlin, Assayas plunges straight into the heart of Vladimir Putin’s rise to power, exposing what he calls “the inner workings of political evil.”

Set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival this week, the film stars Jude Law as Putin and Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, a cunning political strategist inspired by real-life Kremlin power broker Vladislav Surkov. The movie follows Russia’s chaotic transition from the collapse of the Soviet Union to Putin’s consolidation of near-absolute power — a story Assayas says is “less about Putin the man, and more about how modern politics was rewritten behind closed doors.”

Based on Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 bestselling book, The Wizard of the Kremlin, the film arrives at a moment when Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to dominate global headlines. Assayas insists that timing wasn’t intentional — but admits it makes the story hit harder:

“When we started this film, I thought it might already feel like history,” Assayas told Variety. “But here we are, and the themes are more relevant than ever.”

The director frames the movie as an exploration of a new kind of political manipulation — one where spin doctors, billionaires, and shadowy advisors replaced traditional governance. Through Baranov’s perspective, the audience watches Putin’s grip tighten, aided by psychological warfare and media control.

For Jude Law, taking on the role of Vladimir Putin was nothing short of transformative.

“Jude completely reinvented him,” Assayas said. “He didn’t just imitate Putin — he understood him. He spent hours watching newsreels, absorbing every gesture, every calculated pause.”

Paul Dano, meanwhile, immersed himself in Russian politics to shape Baranov’s character. According to Assayas, Dano “would dig up obscure online documents and videos” to bring accuracy and depth to the narrative.

Because filming in Russia was impossible, Assayas recreated Putin’s world in Latvia — from the Kremlin’s imposing halls to the president’s suburban residence. The choice wasn’t just practical but symbolic, given Latvia’s own fraught history with Russian influence.

“Latvia gave us access to places, history, and even Russian-speaking actors who understood this story personally,” Assayas explained.

The production also drew on insights from Russian journalists, historians, and political refugees to ensure authenticity.

Assayas acknowledges the movie may spark backlash. Portraying Putin during an ongoing war carries risks — both political and personal. But he insists the story isn’t propaganda.

“This isn’t about caricature,” he said. “It’s about showing the mechanics of power — how narratives are built, how illusions are sold, and how political evil operates behind the curtain.”

With a supporting cast that includes Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright, and Will Keen, the movie promises high-stakes drama set against a backdrop of real-world consequences.

Putin’s rise to power in the late 1990s reshaped not just Russia but the entire geopolitical order. The film invites viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the systems that shape our world today — and the people who manipulate them.

“Power works the same everywhere,” Assayas said. “It’s about how you take it. And how you never let it go.”

The Wizard of the Kremlin premieres this weekend in Venice and is expected to ignite fierce debates worldwide.