Jude Law is currently doing something that most actors would run away from. He is playing Vladimir Putin. Not a parody of him, not a thinly veiled "inspired by" character, but the man himself. In the newly released The Wizard of the Kremlin, Law takes on the role of the Russian leader during his meteoric rise from a mid-level KGB officer to the "Tsar" of the modern era. Honestly, it’s a choice that has left half of the film world fascinated and the other half deeply uncomfortable.
The movie, directed by French auteur Olivier Assayas, just hit theaters this January 2026. It's based on the massive 2022 bestseller by Giuliano da Empoli. If you’ve been following the festival circuit, you might remember it made some serious noise at the Venice Film Festival late last year.
What The Wizard of the Kremlin Is Actually About
Don't go into this expecting a standard "rise and fall" biopic. It's more of a dark, satirical political thriller. The story is told through the eyes of Vadim Baranov, played by Paul Dano. Baranov is a fictionalized version of Vladislav Surkov, the real-life "Grey Cardinal" who basically invented the modern Russian propaganda machine.
The film covers the messy 1990s—the collapse of the USSR, the wild-west oligarch era, and the desperate search for someone to "stabilize" the country. We see Law’s Putin as a young, athletic, and surprisingly quiet figure who is handpicked by the elites because they think they can control him. Boy, were they wrong.
Why This Isn't Your Typical Jude Law Role
For years, we’ve seen Jude Law play the charming rogue or the refined intellectual. Even his recent turn as Henry VIII in Firebrand had a certain theatricality to it. But here? He’s gone full chameleon. He wears a subtle prosthetic wig to match that thinning, early-2000s Putin hairline, but it’s the body language that’s jarring.
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Law captures that specific, rigid walk and the cold, unblinking stare that has become a hallmark of the real Putin. He told Deadline that taking on the role felt like "climbing Mount Everest." It’s a brave performance, mostly because he isn't playing a villain in the mustache-twirling sense. He's playing a strategist.
The Supporting Cast is Stacked
It isn't just a one-man show. The ensemble is pretty incredible:
- Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov: The "Wizard" who pulls the strings.
- Alicia Vikander as Ksenia: Adding a layer of personal stakes to the political maneuvering.
- Will Keen as Boris Berezovsky: The oligarch who thought he was the kingmaker.
- Tom Sturridge: Rounding out the inner circle of the Kremlin's new elite.
The Controversy: Is It Too Soft?
The Guardian recently published a pretty scathing take, suggesting the film might have "swallowed Kremlin myths." This is the core of the debate surrounding The Wizard of the Kremlin. Critics argue that by portraying Putin as a "cool, reluctant leader" and a "Russian James Bond," the movie risks romanticizing a man who has caused immense global suffering.
Director Olivier Assayas has defended the film, stating it’s an exploration of the "inner workings of political evil." He isn't trying to make a documentary. He’s trying to show how a system was built on image and perception rather than truth. It’s a dark comedy at times, which makes the reality of the situation even more bitter.
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Interestingly, the movie doesn't cover the most recent years of conflict or the Navalny protests. It stops around 2019. For some, this omission feels like a missed opportunity to show the full consequences of the "Wizard's" spells.
Jude Law's Recent Hot Streak
It’s worth noting that Law has been on an absolute tear lately. Before this, he was scruffy and unrecognizable in The Order (2024), playing an FBI agent hunting neo-Nazis. Then there was Eden (2025), the Ron Howard survival thriller where he played a German doctor who pulls out his own teeth to avoid dental issues on a remote island.
He’s clearly in his "transformative character actor" era. He’s moved past the leading man looks and is digging into roles that are gritty, ugly, and morally complex.
What You Should Know Before Watching
If you’re planning to catch this in theaters this month, keep a few things in mind. This is a French-produced film (titled Le Mage du Kremlin in France), so the pacing is more European than Hollywood. It’s a talky movie. There are long scenes of men in dark rooms discussing the nature of power, interspersed with the surreal world of 90s Russian television.
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It's also a bit of a history lesson. You might want to brush up on who Boris Berezovsky was, or why the transition from Yeltsin to Putin was such a shock to the system.
How to Navigate the New Jude Law Filmography
If you want to understand Law's current trajectory, start with The Order to see his grit, then move to Eden for the physical intensity. The Wizard of the Kremlin is the culmination of this dark streak. It’s easily his most provocative work to date.
Next Steps for Film Fans:
Check your local independent cinema listings, as The Wizard of the Kremlin is seeing a limited theatrical release in the US and UK following its wide release in France on January 21, 2026. If you prefer to stay home, keep an eye on Gaumont’s distribution partners, as a streaming debut is expected by late spring.