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Last year, star Jude Law stated he had no concerns about backlash for portraying Vladimir Putin in a new film. The movie, however, could coincide so closely with the mythologized image promoted by official channels that, domestically, it reads as a compliment rather than a critique.

The Crafted Superhero

For years, the Kremlin and the country's entertainment industry have collaborated to forge a tailor-made version of Putin. This character is a political superhero devoid of flaws, an ex-intelligence officer reframed as a Russian James Bond who always knows beyond what he shows.

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

Cinematic Reinforcement

A notable instance is a television show released last October, helmed by a Kremlin supporter. Its main character is a fictional security officer inexplicably chosen to “rescue” the nation from disorder. Although the character's name Mikhail, the implication is clear: the savior must be a familiar security officer.

International depictions frequently result in reinforcing this identical story instead of undercutting it. A new film inspired by a bestselling satirical novel sets out to undermine the leader's mythology by presenting him not as a cause but as a symptom, 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 country because he is “a fit former intelligence agent”. The oligarchs approach him and practically plead him to become president. He replies is that he would rather govern from the shadows, seeking permanent power.

This narrative is a key piece of state propaganda: the detached, unwilling mastermind guided by fate. Historically, none of this ever happened.

The Truth Behind the Selection

No one ever begged Putin to accept the role. The presidency was effectively a selection process with many contenders. Central to the selection stood a powerful businessman from the Yeltsin era who planned to control the country in practice.

• The shortlist included various figures, among them an opposition leader later murdered and a security service director.
• According to a journalist who researched Putin’s biography, the future president merely met the required parameters: loyal, from the security services, and politically neutral.
• A property developer close to the events stated the key criterion was controllability and faithfulness, not strength.

“The goal wasn't a strong candidate, they needed someone controllable, someone who would obey orders.”

Building the 007 Persona

Analysts concur that the image of Putin as a master operative was constructed retrospectively. Stories about his “recruitment work” in Dresden do not stand up to scrutiny. In essence, he was an administrator and technical tasks, a mid-level functionary not engaged in field operations.

Interestingly, the move to framing him as a “007” could partly have been inspired by Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond. His harder interpretation led local outlets and social media to make comparisons with their leader. Mashup posters swapping the actor's likeness with his surfaced on Moscow streets, fueling the increasing trend to frame him as a local secret agent.

A Diplomatic Opportunity?

With Jude Law, an actor popular with Russian audiences, the Kremlin will not miss the chance to portray this choice as a minor diplomatic triumph. The film's exclusion of mass protests, the political rivals, or key figures in the story, even though it includes recent years, is a welcome aspect for official messaging.

In Russian cinema, the president is often an omnipotent figure who remains unseen on screen. He is hinted at through portraits or orders from on high. In this new film, he at last gets a recognizable face—one that may inadvertently echo the exact legends it perhaps aims to examine.