Directed by Olivier Assayas, The Wizard of the Kremlin is a political thriller adapted from the novel by Giuliano da Empoli (Éditions Gallimard, 2022). The film, starring Paul Dano, Jude Law, and Alicia Vikander, will be released in French theaters on January 21, 2026. Produced by Curiosa Films and Gaumont, it delves behind the scenes of contemporary Russian power.
In 1990s Russia, with the USSR having just collapsed, Vadim Baranov, a former artist and television producer, rises through the ranks to become the unofficial advisor to a future president who is a former KGB agent. A master of image and words, he becomes an essential link in the chain of power. His encounter with Ksenia, a free and elusive woman, upsets his equilibrium and leads him to question his convictions. Fifteen years later, having withdrawn from the world, he agrees to tell his story, blurring the line between reality and manipulation.
The screenplay was co-written by Olivier Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, who has already been recognized for his literary and cinematographic work. The work adapts the 2022 Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française and seeks to reveal the mechanics of power in Russia through a character inspired by real strategists. Filming took place in France, Latvia, and Italy, in an international setting faithful to the ambition of the project.
The international cast includes Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Kenn, and Jeffrey Wright. This choice reflects the global scope of the story and Assayas' desire to treat a political story through the prism of global cinema.
This political thriller is aimed at viewers interested in stories of power, influence, and media manipulation. By exploring the shadowy areas of the Russian regime, the film follows in the footsteps of works such as Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer and Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Film | 2026
In theaters January 21, 2026
Political thriller | Running time: 2 hours 36 minutes
By Olivier Assayas | Starring Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright
Original title: The Wizard of the Kremlin
Nationality: France
The Wizard of the Kremlin offers an immersion into the mysteries of Russian power, between fiction and reality, where an image strategist reveals the behind-the-scenes workings of an authoritarian system.
To extend your theater experience, check out the movies to see right now, January's new releases, and our selection of thrillers of the year.
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