Jude Law Is Almost Unrecognizable In Political Thriller, The Wizard Of The Kremlin
Actor Jude Law is known for versatile performances, but his latest role might be his most unusual yet. The award-winning actor steps into the shoes of Russian president Vladimir Putin in a new darkly comic political thriller, opposite Paul Dano (The Fabelmans). The Wizard of the Kremlin stars Dano as a young Russian artist and filmmaker who becomes a political advisor in the 1990s, allying himself with Putin as he rises to power. The new film is set to be released next year — here’s all we know so far:
What is The Wizard of the Kremlin about?
A timely film given current world events, The Wizard of the Kremlin, based on the novel of the same name, takes us back to the 1990s, after the Soviet Union fell and the modern country of Russia was established. Its story focuses on the fictional Vadim Baranov, a character who grew up in the Soviet Union and is caught up in the post-USSR wave of optimism. An aspiring actor, the young Vadim instead decides that he can find more wealth and influence by working as a TV producer, making mundane game shows. It’s in this world that he meets businessman Boris Berenzovsky (Will Keen), who tempts him into politics, to assist with then-President Yeltsin’s reelection campaign.
As he gets a taste for politics and influence, Vadim moves on to become an advisor to the man who would become the next President of Russia: Vladimir Putin, who says he will bring order to the growing instability in the country. He relies on Vadim’s expertise in television and creating a spectacle to help win over the public, and then to keep control once he gets in power. As the 21st century dawns, it’s all too important to keep up appearances, with Vadim crafting not only TV but the internet too- foreshadowing how social media would be manipulated in the future.
Who else stars, and is there a release date?
Vadim tells his story in flashback to a visiting American writer, who’s played by Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction). The rest of the cast, meanwhile, includes Alicia Vikander (The Assessment) and Tom Sturridge (The Sandman) in supporting roles. The Wizard of the Kremlin is set to release in UK cinemas in 2026.
