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In a recent appearance, actor 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 circulated by Russian state media that, domestically, it functions as a endorsement instead of a critique.

The Crafted Strongman

For years, the Russian political apparatus and its pop-culture machine have worked together to craft a tailor-made version of Putin. This figure is a political superhero without age or mistakes, a former spy 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

One recent example is a television show released last fall, helmed by a pro-government filmmaker. Its main character is a invented blue-eyed lieutenant colonel selected by fate to “save” Russia from disorder. Although the character's name a different name, the implication is clear: the savior must be a known figure from the secret services.

Western portrayals frequently result in reinforcing this same narrative rather than debunking it. A new film based on a popular book sets out to undermine the leader's mythology by presenting him as a symptom but as a symptom, shifting the focus to the political machinery surrounding him.

The Myth of the Reluctant Leader

In the film, Putin is presented as having been picked by powerful oligarchs to stabilise the nation because he is “young, athletic and a spy”. The oligarchs approach him and all but beg him to become president. His response is that he would prefer to rule from the background, desiring enduring influence.

This tale is the Kremlin’s export myth: the detached, unwilling mastermind guided by fate. In reality, none of this ever happened.

The Truth Behind the Selection

No one actually pleaded with him to accept the role. The presidency was in essence a casting call with many candidates. Central to the selection stood an influential oligarch from the previous administration who planned to control the country de facto.

• The shortlist included several politicians, including an opposition leader later murdered and a security service director.
• According to an expert who researched Putin’s biography, the future president simply fitted the necessary criteria: obedient, from the security services, and politically neutral.
• A businessman close to the process stated the key criterion was controllability and faithfulness, not leadership.

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

Constructing the Spy Legend

Analysts concur that the notion of Putin as a master operative was built after the fact. Stories about his “recruitment work” in East Germany do not stand up to scrutiny. In essence, he was an administrator and routine duties, a low-level clerk not involved with field operations.

Curiously, the shift to framing him as a “spy” may in part have been inspired by the actor's arrival as James Bond. The grittier version prompted local outlets and social media to draw visual parallels with their leader. Edited images replacing Craig’s face with his surfaced on Moscow streets, feeding the increasing trend to frame him as a local secret agent.

A Propaganda Win?

Given the casting, an actor well-liked by viewers there, the authorities will not miss the chance to frame his casting as a small victory. Its exclusion of public dissent, the political rivals, or prominent activists from its narrative, even though it includes the past decade, is a pleasant bonus for state propaganda.

In Russian cinema, the president is frequently an omnipotent figure who remains unseen directly. He is hinted at through portraits or calls “from above”. In this new film, he at last gets a recognizable face—one that could unintentionally echo the exact legends it perhaps aims to examine.