The Wizard of the Kremlin
Power was the plan. Putin was the consequence.
Overview
Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin. At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and 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.
Movie Info
Release Date: 1/21/2026
Runtime: 156 min
Director: Olivier Assayas
Writers: Olivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère
Top Cast
Paul Dano
Vadim Baranov
Jude Law
Vladimir Putin
Alicia Vikander
Ksenia
Tom Sturridge
Dmitri Sidorov
Will Keen
Boris Berezovsky
Jeffrey Wright
Rowland
Andris Keišs
Yevgeny Prigozhin
Magne-Håvard Brekke
Eduard Limonov
Matthew Baunsgard
Larry
Dan Cade
Agent Johnson
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