There have not been very many onscreen depictions of Vladimir Putin, perhaps in part because he is still Russia’s leader and so the story of his reign is not yet over.
In a recent interview with Deadline, though, Jude Law revealed that he’ll be playing the Russian leader during the first part of his governing career in Olivier Assayas’s new film, The Wizard of the Kremlin.
“I say that hesitatingly because I haven’t really started work on it yet,” Law explained. “I mean, I have, but at the moment it looks like an Everest to climb, so I’m in the foothills looking up thinking, ‘Oh Christ, what have I said?’”
Law continued by saying that he often feels intimidated by roles early on: “That’s often how I feel whilst I say yes. I was going, ‘Oh God, how am I going to do this?’ But anyway, that’s for me to sort out.”
The story opens in Russia, in the early 1990’s, in the aftermath of the USSR’s collapse. In a new world that promises freedom and flirts with chaos, a young artist-turned-TV producer, Vadim Baranov, unexpectedly becomes the spin doctor of a promising member of the FSB (ex-KGB), Vladimir Putin.
“Working at the heart of Russian power, Baranov blurs truth with lies, the news with propaganda, directing the entire society like one great reality show. Only his love for the magnetic, free-minded Ksenia can turn him away from this dangerous game,” reads the synopsis. ‘‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’’ sets out to tell Baranov’s story, and through his eyes, tell the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.
Academy Award nominated actor Paul Dano, who has played complex characters as in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” musician Brian Wilson in “Love and Mercy” and “The Riddler” in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” will play Baranov. The movie will reteam Oscar-nominated actor Law and Oscar winner Vikander who last played together in Karim Aïnouz’s “Firebrand,” which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Set to be translated in over 30 languages, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is an international bestseller which won the Académie Française’s prestigious Grand Prix Du Roman and was a finalist for the Goncourt Prize. Its author, Da Empoli is a former senior adviser to Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi.
The project resonates with Assayas’ passions and previous projects that also tackled politics and power through the perspective of outsiders, for instance in “Carlos” starring Edgar Ramirez as the Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, or more recently “Wasp Network,” starring Penelope Cruz and Ramirez as Cuban spies in Miami who infiltrated anti-Castro networks.
“The Wizard of the Kremlin” will mark Assayas’ most ambitious film to date. In his director’s note, Assayas said “the film will have in common with “Carlos” and “Wasp Network ” the fact that it will be character-driven, providing exciting roles for strong actors.”
“Beyond the passions of men navigating the dangerous fluxes of modern politics, we see the powerful cinematic sweep of History in the making. It’s drama, it’s action, it’s about trying to make sense of the chaos that is transforming our world in the strangest, most disturbing ways.” stated Assayas.
Cassanet said “Assayas is one of the only contemporary European filmmakers who is celebrated everywhere including in America, and he has the power to rally around him A-list actors who are eager to accompany him on this project which promises to be subversive and captivating.”
Assayas previously worked with Vikander and Sturridge (in production on the final season of Sandman for Netflix) on the HBO series “Irma Vep” and most recently directed “Suspended Time” which competed at the Berlinale.
The film is an adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli’s novel of the same name and follows a young filmmaker who unexpectedly becomes an advisor to Putin as Putin rises through the ranks of the Russian government.
In addition to Law, the film will also star Zach Galafanakis, Alicia Vikander, and Tom Sturridge. We have no word yet on when the film might be released, but based on Law’s comments, it sounds like the film is still in fairly early stages.
