Jude Law’s Political Thriller May Be His Most Impressive Role Yet in New Trailer

23 hours ago 2

Published Apr 13, 2026, 11:39 AM EDT

Ryan O'Rourke is a Senior News Writer at Collider with a specific interest in all things adult animation, video game adaptations, and the work of Mike Flanagan. He is also an experienced baseball writer with over six years of articles between multiple outlets, most notably FanSided's CubbiesCrib. Whether it's taking in a baseball game, a new season of Futurama or Castlevania: Nocturne, or playing the latest From Software title, he is always finding ways to show his fandom. When it comes to gaming and anything that takes inspiration from it, he is deeply opinionated on what's going on. Outside of entertainment, he's a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelor's in Communication where he honed his craft as a writer. Between The IV Leader at Illinois Valley Community College and The Pegasus at Eureka, he spent the majority of his college career publishing articles on everything from politics to campus happenings and, of course, entertainment for the student body. Those principles he learned covering the 2020 election, Palestine, and so much more are brought here to Collider, where he has gleefully written on everything from the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Nathan Lane baby-birding sewer boys.

In just one month, Jude Law is about to transform into one of the most influential world leaders of the modern day — Vladimir Putin. Based on Giuliano da Empoli's debut novel of the same name, The Wizard of the Kremlin will be a darkly satirical take on the current Russian president's rise to power with help from fictional master manipulator Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano). It's set in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, as the ex-KGB agent makes moves to reshape Russian life amid the chaos and Baranov acts as his personal spin doctor. Ahead of the premiere in theaters, Vertical has pulled back the curtain with an official trailer that shows the building of a myth and the tyranny and bloodshed that ensues in its wake.

Putin may be the larger-than-life figure of Wizard of the Kremlin, but the real focus is on Baranov, who helped make it all possible through his experience as a director and television producer. The footage opens with a bit of mythmaking about him, first, focusing on his reputation as "the new Rasputin" who wanted to carve himself a spot in history. He would do so by getting into people's heads and selling them on a world that's controlled by the Russians and working his black magic in favor of the charismatic young former spy, Putin, who was dead set on power. Quickly, though, he starts to sell his soul, delving into lies and corruption and helping Putin construct a strongman image that inspires fear and incites violence. As the President himself said, he has no interest in a Nobel Peace Prize, but instead wants "a war" for the heart of Russia.

Though Baranov may not be real, he's still based in reality, taking inspiration from the figures that helped construct the titanic visage of Putin behind the scenes, like Vladislav Surkov. Through following him in both his personal and professional life, it aims to show both the political thriller full of twisted machinations and assassinations as well as the darkly comedic chaos of a Russia being pulled into autocracy by a man obsessed with power and perception. Joining Dano and Law for the ride are Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, and Jeffrey Wright. Irma Vep creator Olivier Assayas both wrote and directed the feature, with Emmanuel Carrère co-writing.