The intriguing film that casts 'superior' Jude Law as the insidious Putin
Filmmaker Olivier Assayas discusses his new satirical drama, The Wizard of the Kremlin, which features Jude Law as a character inspired by Russian political figures. The film explores the rise of power in Russia and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
Why it matters
It highlights how contemporary political crises are being interpreted and dramatized by high-profile filmmakers to reach global audiences.
The Russian president's rise is skewered in satirical drama The Wizard of the Kremlin .
Stephen A Russell for ABC 24 July 2026 7 min read Caption: Jude Law plays Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin. Photo credit: Supplied/Rialto Distributions Before the Russian assault on Ukraine in 2022, celebrated French filmmaker Olivier Assayas ( Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria ) visited the now-beleaguered capital, Kyiv.
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