The Wizard of the Kremlin (film)
| The Wizard of the Kremlin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| French | Le Mage du Kremlin |
| Directed by | Olivier Assayas |
| Screenplay by | Olivier Assayas Emmanuel Carrère |
| Based on | The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliano da Empoli |
| Produced by | Olivier Delbosc |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Yorick Le Saux |
| Edited by | Marion Monnier |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 156 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
The Wizard of the Kremlin (French: Le Mage du Kremlin) is a 2025 political thriller dark comedy film directed by Olivier Assayas, written by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère and based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Giuliano da Empoli.[1] It is a satire that follows the fictional character of Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) during the final years of the Soviet Union and the turbulent start of the Russian Federation, while a young Vladimir Putin (Jude Law) rises to power. It also stars Alicia Vikander, Will Keen, Tom Sturridge and Jeffrey Wright.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 31 August 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion.[2]
Premise
Vadim Baranov morphs from a young artist in 1990s Russia into an influential government official and spin doctor at the heart of the government.[3]
Cast
- Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov (inspired by Vladislav Surkov[1])
- Jude Law as Vladimir Putin (nicknamed the 'tsar'[1])
- Alicia Vikander as Ksenia
- Will Keen as Boris Berezovsky
- Tom Sturridge as Dmitri Sidorov
- Jeffrey Wright as Rowland
- Kaspars Kambala as Alexander Zaldostanov
- Andris Keišs as Yevgeny Prigozhin
- Magne-Håvard Brekke as Eduard Limonov
- Matthew Baunsgard as Larry
- Dan Cade as Agent Johnson
Production
The film is directed by Olivier Assayas and is an adaptation by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère of the novel The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliano da Empoli, published in French in April 2022. It is produced by Curiosa Films and Gaumont.[4]
Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Zach Galifianakis and Tom Sturridge were reported to be leading the cast in May 2024 with Dano cast as the fictional Russian political advisor Vadim Baranov.[5] In January 2025, it was announced that Law would portray Vladimir Putin.[6] Filming took place in March 2025 in Riga, Latvia.[7]
Release
In February 2026, Vertical acquired the U.S. distribution rights for the film, for a 2026 release date.[8]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 49% of 39 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "A dryly witty yet overwrought slow burner, The Wizard of the Kremlin can't overcome its thin characters, sluggish pacing, and repetitive storytelling."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[10]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinema for Peace Awards | 16 February 2026 | Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year | The Wizard of the Kremlin | Pending | [11][12] |
| Venice International Film Festival | 6 September 2025 | Golden Lion | Olivier Assayas | Nominated | [13] |
See also
References
- ^ a b c Peter Bradshaw (August 31, 2025). "The Wizard of the Kremlin review – Jude Law is Putin in adaptation of Kremlin spin doctor bestseller". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ^ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | The Wizard of the Kremlin". La Biennale di Venezia. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Booth, Ned (May 17, 2024). "'The Wizard Of The Kremlin': Olivier Assayas' Next Film Stars Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Zach Galifianakis & Tom Sturridge". Playlist. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (May 17, 2024). "Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Sturridge Team Up in Olivier Assayas' 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' for Gaumont (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Blevins, Adam (May 17, 2024). "Paul Dano and Jude Law Will Take on 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' in New Political Thriller". Collider. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Bamigboye, Baz (January 9, 2025). "Breaking Baz: Jude Law Portrays Much-Married Henry VIII As A Murderous Monarch With Sore Legs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ Zimko, Oleksandra (March 25, 2025). "Jude Law appeared in Putin's image: First photos from The Wizard of the Kremlin". News Ukraine. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (February 12, 2026). "Vertical Acquires Olivier Assayas' Political Thriller 'The Wizard Of The Kremlin' Starring Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander & Jude Law". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ "The Wizard of the Kremlin". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "The Wizard of the Kremlin". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
- ^ Bizilj, Jaka (January 4, 2026). "Cinema for Peace Unveils Nominees for 2026 & supports the people of Venezuela". Cinema for Peace Foundation. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (January 8, 2026). "Cinema For Peace Gives Shoutout To Venezuelan Opposition Leaders As It Unveils 2026 Nominees Including Pope Leo, Jafar Panahi & Scarlett Johansson". Deadline. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- ^ Shafer, Nick Vivarelli,Ellise (July 22, 2025). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia' With Emma Stone, Benny Safdie's 'Smashing Machine,' Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' and More". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)