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Jude Law as Putin debuts in ‘Wizard of Kremlin’ Premiere

5/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Russia sees The Wizard of the Kremlin open on 582 screens.
The Olivier Assayas thriller adapts Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 novel and stars Jude Law as Vladimir Putin.
Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a spin doctor on Vladislav Surkov who rises from artist to strategist and advises Putin.
After Venice, it will screen in Toronto, San Sebastian and BFI London while critics warn of fake democracy and Russian internet manipulation.

History

Historical Context

Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea—backed by a disputed 95.5% referendum and a surge of state-controlled media—sparked a “Crimean consensus” that amplified Kremlin propaganda. The move elevated strategists like Vladislav Surkov, whose rise the 2024 film *The Wizard of Kremlin* dramatizes, while figures such as Vladimir Putin continue to shape Russia’s digital influence campaigns.

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Story summary

Russia sees The Wizard of the Kremlin open on 582 screens.
The Olivier Assayas thriller adapts Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 novel and stars Jude Law as Vladimir Putin.
Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a spin doctor on Vladislav Surkov who rises from artist to strategist and advises Putin.
After Venice, it will screen in Toronto, San Sebastian and BFI London while critics warn of fake democracy and Russian internet manipulation.

1 / 2