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In a recent appearance, star Jude Law stated he “didn’t fear any repercussions” for playing the Russian leader in a new film. The movie, however, could coincide too neatly with the carefully constructed image promoted by official channels that, domestically, it reads as a compliment instead of a challenge.

The Manufactured Superhero

For years, the Russian political apparatus and the country's entertainment industry have collaborated to craft a tailor-made persona of the president. This character is an infallible strategist devoid of flaws, an ex-intelligence officer reframed as a local 007 who consistently understands more than he reveals.

“In Russia, the constructed Putin has long eclipsed the real one.”

Cinematic Reinforcement

One recent example is a TV series released last October, directed by a pro-government filmmaker. The protagonist is a invented blue-eyed lieutenant colonel selected by fate to “save” the nation from disorder. Although he is called Mikhail, the message is unmistakable: the hero must be a known figure from the secret services.

Western portrayals often end up buttressing this identical story instead of undercutting it. A new film based on a bestselling satirical novel aims to undermine the leader's mythology by framing him as a symptom but as a consequence, moving the narrative weight to the spin doctors around him.

The Fable of the Hesitant President

In the film, the president is shown as having been picked by influential figures 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 prefer to rule from the background, seeking permanent power.

This narrative is the Kremlin’s export myth: the cool, reluctant strategist guided by fate. Historically, none of this ever happened.

The Reality of the Casting Call

Nobody actually pleaded with Putin to accept the role. The presidency was in essence a selection process with no shortage of contenders. At the centre to the selection stood a powerful businessman from the previous administration who planned to control the country de facto.

• The shortlist featured several politicians, among them an opposition leader subsequently assassinated and a former spy chief.
• According to a journalist who researched his rise, the chosen candidate merely met the necessary criteria: loyal, from the intelligence world, and not a communist or a liberal.
• A businessman familiar with the events stated the primary requirement was manageability and faithfulness, not strength.

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

Building the 007 Persona

Experts agree that the image of Putin as a powerful KGB spy was built after the fact. Stories about his “recruitment work” in Dresden do not stand up to scrutiny. Fundamentally, he was an administrator and routine duties, a mid-level functionary not engaged in actual agent work.

Interestingly, the shift to framing him as a “spy” could partly have been inspired by Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond. His harder version led Russian media and online audiences to make comparisons with their leader. Mashup posters replacing Craig’s face with his appeared on Moscow streets, fueling the increasing trend to frame him as a local secret agent.

A Propaganda Win?

With Jude Law, an star well-liked by Russian audiences, the Kremlin will not miss the opportunity to portray this choice as a minor diplomatic triumph. The film's exclusion of mass protests, the opposition, or key figures from its narrative, even though it includes the past decade, is a welcome aspect for official messaging.

In Russian cinema, Putin is often an all-powerful presence who never appears on screen. He is hinted at through photographs or calls “from above”. In this new film, he at last gets a recognizable face—one that could unintentionally echo the very myths it perhaps aims to examine.