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In a recent appearance, star Jude Law stated he had no concerns about backlash for portraying Vladimir Putin in a new film. This production, however, may align so closely with the carefully constructed version promoted by Russian state media that, domestically, it functions as a compliment rather than a critique.

The Crafted Superhero

For years, the Russian political apparatus and its entertainment industry have collaborated to forge a made-to-measure version of the president. This character is a political superhero without age or mistakes, an ex-intelligence officer reimagined as a local 007 who consistently understands beyond what he shows.

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

Screen-Based Support

One recent example is a TV series launched last October, directed by a Kremlin supporter. Its main character is a fictional blue-eyed lieutenant colonel selected by fate to “rescue” Russia from disorder. Although the character's name Mikhail, the message is unmistakable: the savior must be a familiar security officer.

Western portrayals often end up buttressing this identical story rather than debunking it. An adaptation inspired by a popular book aims to undermine the leader's mythology by presenting him not as a cause but as a consequence, shifting the narrative weight to the spin doctors surrounding him.

The Myth of the Reluctant Leader

In the film, the president is shown as having been picked by influential figures to stabilise the nation because he is “young, athletic and a spy”. The oligarchs approach him and all but beg him to take the top job. His response is that he would prefer to rule from the background, 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

Nobody actually pleaded with him to take the job. The position was effectively a selection process with no shortage of candidates. Central to the selection stood a powerful businessman from the previous administration who expected to run the state de facto.

• The shortlist featured various figures, including an opposition leader later murdered and a security service director.
• Per an expert who researched Putin’s biography, the future president simply fitted the required parameters: loyal, from the intelligence world, and politically neutral.
• A businessman close to the process said the primary requirement was manageability and faithfulness, not strength.

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

Building the 007 Persona

Analysts concur that the image of Putin as a powerful KGB spy was constructed retrospectively. Stories about his clandestine activities in Dresden do not stand up to scrutiny. In essence, he handled paperwork and routine duties, a mid-level functionary not involved with actual agent work.

Interestingly, the shift to framing him as a “007” may in part have been inspired by the actor's debut as James Bond. The grittier version led local outlets and social media to make comparisons with Putin. Mashup posters replacing the actor's likeness with his appeared on city centers, fueling the growing tendency to see 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 chance to portray this choice as a small victory. Its exclusion of public dissent, the political rivals, or prominent activists from its narrative, despite covering recent years, is a welcome aspect for official messaging.

Domestically, the president is frequently an omnipotent figure who never appears on screen. His influence is signaled through photographs or calls “from above”. In this new film, he at last gets a recognizable face—one that may inadvertently echo the exact legends it perhaps aims to examine.