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In a recent appearance, star Jude Law remarked he “didn’t fear any repercussions” for portraying Vladimir Putin in a new film. The movie, though, may align so closely with the carefully constructed image promoted by Russian state media that, domestically, it functions as a compliment rather than a critique.

The Crafted Strongman

For years, the Russian political apparatus and the country's entertainment industry have worked together to craft a tailor-made persona of Putin. This character is a political superhero without age or mistakes, an ex-intelligence officer reframed as a local 007 who always knows beyond what he shows.

“In Russia, the constructed Putin has long eclipsed the actual person.”

Cinematic Reinforcement

One recent example is a TV series launched last fall, directed by a Kremlin supporter. The protagonist is a fictional blue-eyed lieutenant colonel inexplicably chosen to “save” the nation from chaos. Although the character's name Mikhail, the implication is unmistakable: the savior must be a known figure from the secret services.

Western portrayals often end up buttressing this same narrative rather than undercutting it. A new film based on a bestselling satirical novel sets out to subvert the Putin cult by presenting him as a symptom but as a consequence, moving the focus to the spin doctors surrounding him.

The Fable of the Hesitant President

On screen, the president is shown as having been picked by powerful oligarchs to stabilise the nation because he is “a fit former intelligence agent”. They visit him and all but beg him to take the top job. His response is that he would prefer to rule from the background, seeking enduring influence.

This tale is a key piece of state propaganda: the detached, unwilling mastermind guided by fate. Historically, these events ever happened.

The Reality of the Casting Call

No one ever begged Putin to take the job. The position was effectively a casting call with many contenders. Central to the selection stood an influential oligarch from the Yeltsin era who planned to control the country in practice.

• The shortlist included several politicians, among them a reformer subsequently assassinated and a security service director.
• Per an expert who studied Putin’s biography, the future president simply fitted the required parameters: obedient, from the security services, and politically neutral.
• A businessman familiar with the process stated the primary requirement was manageability and faithfulness, not strength.

“The goal wasn't a powerful leader, they needed someone malleable, someone who would follow instructions.”

Constructing the Spy Legend

Experts agree that the notion of him as a master operative was constructed retrospectively. Stories about his “recruitment work” in East Germany fall apart under examination. In essence, he handled paperwork and technical tasks, a low-level clerk not involved with actual agent work.

Interestingly, the shift to framing him as a “spy” could partly have been inspired by Daniel Craig’s arrival as 007. The grittier version led local outlets and online audiences to draw visual parallels with Putin. Edited images replacing Craig’s face with his appeared on Moscow streets, feeding the increasing trend to see him as a Russian 007.

A Diplomatic Opportunity?

With Jude Law, an star well-liked by Russian audiences, the Kremlin will not miss the chance to portray this choice as a small victory. Its exclusion of mass protests, the political rivals, or key figures in the story, even though it includes recent years, is a pleasant bonus for state propaganda.

In Russian cinema, Putin is often an omnipotent figure who never appears on screen. He is hinted at through portraits or orders from on high. In this new film, he finally acquires a recognizable face—one that may inadvertently validate the exact legends it perhaps aims to examine.