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Jude Law Shines as Putin in 'Wizard of the Kremlin'

4/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Wizard of the Kremlin stars Jude Law as Vladimir Putin.
Olivier Assayas directs the film, based on Giuliano de Empoli's novel.
The story depicts Putin's collaboration with Vadim Baranov and explores violence, deception, and political corruption.
The film premieres at Cannes in May 2026 and opens in theaters on May 15, 2026.
Early reviews are mixed, but Jude Law's performance is generating Oscar buzz.

History

Historical Context

The Soviet Union's dissolution in December 1991 followed years of political turmoil and economic decline, exacerbated by Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of glasnost and perestroika. The failed August coup that year, led by hardliners, accelerated the collapse, allowing Boris Yeltsin to rise as a key leader. This historical backdrop informs contemporary Russian politics, including the narrative explored in the film "The Wizard of the Kremlin."

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Story summary

The Wizard of the Kremlin stars Jude Law as Vladimir Putin.
Olivier Assayas directs the film, based on Giuliano de Empoli's novel.
The story depicts Putin's collaboration with Vadim Baranov and explores violence, deception, and political corruption.
The film premieres at Cannes in May 2026 and opens in theaters on May 15, 2026.
Early reviews are mixed, but Jude Law's performance is generating Oscar buzz.

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