Jude Law Discusses His Role as Vladimir Putin in "The Wizard of the Kremlin" at Venice Film Festival
Jude Law recently shared his thoughts on portraying Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas’ political thriller, The Wizard of the Kremlin, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film offers a fictionalized look at Putin’s rise to power during the tumultuous 1990s in Russia. Law humorously expressed his hope that he wasn’t being naive by accepting the role without fearing potential repercussions.
During a panel discussion on the Lido, Law joined director Assayas and co-stars Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, and Jeffrey Wright to shed light on the film’s creative process. Law emphasized that their approach was not to create a direct interpretation of Putin but rather to capture the essence of the character. He explained, “Olivier and I discussed that I shouldn’t hide behind a mask of prosthetics. Instead, we worked with a talented makeup and hair team, using references from that period in Putin’s life to find a sense of familiarity in my portrayal.” Although Law’s appearance is altered for the role, he chose to use his natural voice rather than adopting a Russian accent, stating, “It’s amazing what a great wig can do,” which elicited laughter from the audience.
The Wizard of the Kremlin is based on the acclaimed novel by Italian author Giuliano da Empoli and unfolds as a gripping political drama that explores the rise of Vladimir Putin’s regime. Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a former artist turned spin doctor who orchestrates propaganda and media manipulation within the Kremlin. Law takes on the role of a younger Putin, depicted as both calculating and enigmatic, while Alicia Vikander portrays Ksenia, Baranov’s love interest and moral compass.
The narrative spans from the 1990s to the 2000s, illustrating wars, disasters, and revolutions through Baranov’s perspective. It chronicles his transformation from an idealist to a key architect of authoritarian power, highlighting the personal sacrifices made in becoming Putin’s “wizard.” Dano’s character is inspired by Vladislav Surkov, the real-life strategist credited with facilitating Putin’s ascendance.
When asked if he could identify any redeeming qualities in Putin while preparing for the role, Law took a moment before responding, “Well, I learned judo, so I took my own positive from that.” He admitted to delving deeply into archival footage of Putin, noting the challenge of portraying a character whose public persona reveals little emotion. “There’s this mask,” he explained, referencing journalist Masha Gessen’s book, The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. “I often found myself in conflict as an actor, trying to convey very little while feeling a lot internally — and that was crucial to my performance.”
Director Assayas spoke to the relevance of Putin’s story in today’s political landscape, where autocracy appears to be on the rise. He remarked, “The film examines how 21st-century politics were shaped, with much of the darkness stemming from Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power in Russia. We created a film that reflects the current unsettling political climate, which resonates with many authoritarian leaders’ stories. What’s happening now is not only frightening, but we also haven’t seen a significant reaction or solution emerging.”
With its timely themes and compelling performances, The Wizard of the Kremlin promises to engage audiences and provoke thought about modern politics and the nature of power.
