Russian President Vladimir Putin says he hasn’t heard of Jude Law’s new film The Wizard of the Kremlin, where the British actor plays a fictionalised version of him. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Putin was asked by reporters, including AFP, about the movie.
Putin’s response was brief: “No, I haven’t seen this film. It’s even the first time I’m hearing about it. I can’t comment because I don’t know,” he said.
The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas, is one of 21 films in competition at the Venice Film Festival. It received a 10-minute standing ovation after its premiere.
Based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling novel, the story follows Vadim Baranov, a fictional political advisor inspired by real-life Kremlin insider Vladislav Surkov. Baranov, a former reality TV star, becomes the spin doctor who helps shape Putin’s rise to power. Jude Law plays Putin, while Paul Dano stars as Baranov. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, and Jeffrey Wright.
At the festival, Jude Law said he wasn’t worried about portraying one of the world’s most controversial leaders. “I hope not naively, but I didn’t fear repercussions,” he told reporters. He added that director Assayas didn’t want heavy prosthetics, preferring “a familiarity” to his version of Putin. “It’s amazing what a great wig can do,” Law joked.
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Assayas describes the film as a “cinematic sweep of history”, charting Russia’s shift from democracy to autocracy. He called it a warning for the West, showing how fast authoritarianism can take hold. Despite Putin’s indifference, the film is already generating global buzz.
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