Image via Netflix
Published Jan 27, 2026, 10:01 AM EST
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.
It's almost time to meet the man of Rachel Weisz's fantasies — Vladimir. Netflix released the first images and teaser art for The Mummy star's upcoming series adaptation of Julia May Jonas' novel of the same name, teasing a tale of desire, obsession, scandalous secrets, power, and how they all collide for one beloved English teacher. Opposite her will be Leo Woodall as the titular charismatic subject of her fixation, who takes her life to risky new places. The big batch of stills from the limited series also came with a release, confirming a wait of just under one month for all episodes to arrive on March 5.
Vladimir follows a "passionate but reckless" professor whose entire world begins to unravel amid scandal at the college she works for. During the tumult, she meets Vladimir, an enchanting new colleague whom she quickly becomes obsessed with, even though they're both married. One image hints at how smitten she is by him, smiling widely while giving him a book, before another sees her fantasies seemingly becoming reality as things heat up between the pair against a bookshelf. She's willing to gamble everything to live out her most scandalous dreams, going down a path of seduction where boundaries blur, and sexy secrets simmer. Jonas told Tudum that the series is an exploration of "what women feel like they’re allowed to desire, and how they’re allowed to desire,” with a bit of sharp wit, humor, and unpredictability courtesy of its complicated characters.
Weisz likened Vladimir to a fairytale of sorts in her own statement to Tudum, albeit a darker, more grounded, and provocative one about "the power of desire." At its core, the story, to her, is about a woman reawakening a part of herself for the first time in ages in a way her life, until her encounter with the titular young, dreamy novelist, hasn't been able to.
“It’s like a heightened fairy tale. [The protagonist’s] fantasy is about the power of desire. The invigorating, stimulating, inspiring, and revivifying feeling that she gets from her obsession with Vlad. What it’s about is coming back to life in a certain way that had lain dormant for some time.”
Who Joins Weisz and Woodall in 'Vladimir'?
Also pictured in the images are the star-studded cast surrounding the Oscar-winning Weisz's obsessed professor and Woodall's Vladimir. Mad Men favorite John Slattery is playing Weisz's husband, John, though their home life appears less than satisfactory when compared to the thrill Vladimir promises. Mickey 17 alum Ellen Robertson, meanwhile, appears as one of her students, while Glass Onion's Jessica Henwick is shown next to Vladimir as his wife, Cynthia. Rounding out the bunch is a supporting group featuring Matt Walsh, Kayli Carter, Miriam Silverman, Mallori Johnson, Tattiawna Jones, and Louise Lambert.
Jonas served as writer, creator, and executive producer for the series based on her acclaimed novel, ensuring it'll be an accurate depiction of her scintillating story. Weisz will also join her as an executive producer, alongside Sharon Horgan, Stacy Greenberg, and Kira Carstensen for Merman, Jason Winer and Jon Radler for Small Dog Picture Company, and directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. Jumping behind the camera as well will be Emmy nominee Francesca Gregorini and Baby Reindeer director Josephine Bornebusch.
Vladimir premieres on Netflix on March 5. Check out the first images and teaser art in the gallery above.
English (US) ·