Acclaimed actor Jude Law has confirmed he will portray Russian President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming film "The Wizard of the Kremlin," though he admits feeling daunted by the challenging role.
The 52-year-old British actor revealed in a recent Deadline interview that he will play Putin in a supporting role, focusing on the Russian leader's early governing career. "At the moment it looks like an Everest to climb," Law confessed, expressing his apprehension about taking on such a complex character.
French filmmaker Olivier Assayas will direct the film, which is based on Giuliano da Empoli's 2023 bestselling book of the same name. The star-studded cast includes Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, and Zach Galifianakis.
The story centers on Vadim Baranov (played by Dano), an artist-turned-TV-producer who becomes a key figure in Russian power dynamics. The character navigates between truth and propaganda while orchestrating society like a reality show, until his relationship with a woman named Ksenia challenges his path.
While Law acknowledges he has begun preliminary work on the role, he remains candid about his concerns. "I'm in the foothills looking up thinking, 'Oh Christ, what have I said?'" the actor shared, adding that such doubts often accompany his acceptance of challenging roles.
The film adaptation features a screenplay by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, though no official release date has been announced yet. As production approaches, Law faces the task of bringing one of today's most controversial political figures to the screen.