Actor Jude Law takes on the role of Russian president Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas' film titled The Wizard of the Kremlin.

In the heart of the Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2025, British actor Jude Law graced the screen as Vladimir Putin in the political mystery, "The Wizard of the Kremlin." Directed by Olivier Assayas, this thought-provoking film serves as a warning about the transformation of politics during our lifetime.

Set in the chaos of the end of the Soviet Union, "The Wizard of the Kremlin" tells the story of Putin's rise to power. The movie is based on Giuliano da Empoli's best-selling book of the same name from 2022.

In addition to Law, the film features an impressive cast including Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, and Jeffrey Wright. Dano portrays Vadim Baranov, a character based on Vladislav Sourkov, a real-life fixer who had a significant impact on Putin's personality and authoritarian leadership.

Assayas denies that Russia rules the world, but states that part of the evil in modern politics came from Putin's rise to power in Russia. Wright, on the other hand, believes that "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is not only useful but also needs to be "told in a mirror when it comes to America." He discusses the idea that we could strive for some kind of ideal perfection, and losing that could lead to becoming what is depicted in the movie.

Interestingly, Law did not use a thick Russian accent to play Putin. Instead, he chose to use his own voice. Assayas and Law also decided not to use prosthetics for Law's transformation in the movie.

The movie is gaining importance due to Vladimir Putin's recent meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump. As Russia continues its full-scale attack on Ukraine, the story becomes even more relevant. Wright states that Russian history is different from American history, but both have had urges toward fascism and dictatorship.

"The Wizard of the Kremlin" is portrayed as a depiction of how scary and dangerous politics has become. Assayas views the movie as a reflection of modern politics, serving as a warning about the dangers of authoritarian leadership and the manipulation of power.

Jeffrey Wright believes that "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is not just a story about Russia, but a story that affects all of us around the world. He states that the movie is primarily about the origin of modern politics, and serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding democracy and combating the rise of authoritarianism.