entertainment / Tuesday, 26-Aug-2025

First Look At Jude Law As Putin Revealed In The Wizard of the Kremlin Set Photo

The first photo has been revealed of The Wizard of the Kremlin. The upcoming thriller will see Jude Law play Vladimir Putin, who experiences a young filmmaker becoming his advisor during his rise to power in post-Soviet Russia. In addition to Law, the film features Alicia Vikander, Paul Dano, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Sturridge, and Jeffrey Wright. The film is directed by French filmmaker Olivier Assayas, who has worked on Personal Shopper and Clouds of Sils Maria. Assayas also wrote the movie's script.

Per The Times, the first-look photo of The Wizard of the Kremlin reveals Law's transformation as Putin. The actor wears a suit and has his hair slicked back in the photo while sporting a blank expression. He is surrounded by what appear to be extras playing members of an Arab delegation. A second photo shows Law giving a slight smile in the role.

Click The Link To See Jude Law's Transformation As Putin

What This Means For The Wizard Of The Kremlin

The Film Will Have Significant Fictional Elements

Jude Law's Jod Na Nawood staring at a pile of credits in Skeleton Crew episode 7 (2025)
Jude Law's Jod Na Nawood staring at a pile of credits in Skeleton Crew episode 7 (2025)

While Putin is a living, real-life figure, The Wizard of the Kremlin will have fictional elements. It is based on the novel of the same name by Italian author Giuliano de Empoli. The plot features a fictional character, Vladimir Baranov (Dano in the film), who is loosely based on Vladislav Surkov. Surkov is a Russian politician and businessperson who served as one of Putin's political advisors, helping the president keep power in the 2000s.

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Jude Law's 10 Best Movies, Ranked

Nearing veteran status while showcasing his incredible range and talent, Jude Law remains a powerful force on screen as seen in many notable films.

The only main character whose appearance has been revealed is Law, who plays the real character of Putin. While the British actor does not look exactly like Putin, his dyed and slicked-back hair matches the Russian president's style. Even his blank, perturbed expression resembles how the Russian figure is often observed in photographs. As more photos become available from the set of The Wizard of the Kremlin, it will be interesting to see to what extent Law's look aligns with his Russian presidential counterpart.

Our Take On The Wizard Of The Kremlin Images

The Movie Might Cause Controversy

Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in The Apprentice
Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in The Apprentice

While the hair and makeup for The Wizard of the Kremlin seems like a fairly decent attempt, I will be most interested to see how the movie ends up being received upon its release. As evidenced by the controversy around last year's biopic The Apprentice, movies about currently alive and controversial political figures are not always met with warm reception. I expect this Putin film to be no exception, making the production updates intriguing and potentially contentious.

Source: The Times

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The Wizard of the Kremlin
Director
Olivier Assayas
Writers
Emmanuel Carrère, Olivier Assayas
Producers
Olivier Delbosc

Cast

See All
  • Headshot Of Paul Dano In The New York Film Critics Circle Awards
    Vadim Baranov
  • Headshot Of Jude Law
    Vladimir Putin
  • Headshot Of Alicia Vikander
    Alicia Vikander
    Ksenia
  • Headshot Of Zach Galifianakis
    Zach Galifianakis

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