Trailer for Paul Dano and Jude Law's THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN - A Chilling Glimpse Inside Putin’s Rise to Power
Gaumont has released the first trailer for The Wizard of the Kremlin, the new film from French director Olivier Assayas. The movie takes audiences deep inside the machinery of Russian power during Vladimir Putin’s rise to prominence.
Set in post-Soviet Russia, The Wizard of the Kremlin follows Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, a gifted young artist who transforms into a media strategist and political advisor during a time of chaos and reinvention.
His journey takes him from creative idealist to the cunning architect behind a new regime’s propaganda. Opposite Dano, Jude Law portrays Vladimir Putin with an eerie composure that captures the enigmatic leader’s quiet intensity. The cast also features Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright, Tom Sturridge, and Will Keen.
The film’s official synopsis reads: “Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor for a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin.
“At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth & lies, belief & manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game.
“Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.”
Assayas, who is also known for Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria, and the HBO series Irma Vep, once again dives into complex psychological territory, this time exploring the intersection of art, politics, and deception.
The film is adapted from Giuliano Da Empoli’s bestselling novel of the same name, with a screenplay co-written by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère.
The trailer teases an interesting story about control and manipulation, tracking Baranov’s evolution from idealism to disillusionment as he becomes both a creator and victim of his own narrative.
The film opens in France in January 2026, with a U.S. release still awaiting confirmation.