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Last year, actor Jude Law remarked he “didn’t fear any repercussions” for portraying Vladimir Putin in a cinematic adaptation. The movie, though, could coincide so closely with the carefully constructed version promoted by Russian state media that, within Russia, it functions as a compliment instead of a critique.

The Crafted Superhero

Over a long period, the Russian political apparatus and its entertainment industry have collaborated to forge a tailor-made version of Putin. This figure is a political superhero devoid of flaws, a former spy reimagined as a Russian James Bond who consistently understands more than he reveals.

“Domestically, the manufactured Putin has long overshadowed the actual person.”

Cinematic Reinforcement

One recent example is a TV series released last October, directed by a pro-government filmmaker. The protagonist is a fictional blue-eyed lieutenant colonel inexplicably chosen to “rescue” Russia from disorder. Although he is called a different name, the message is unmistakable: the savior must be a known figure from the secret services.

Western portrayals often end up buttressing this same narrative instead of undercutting it. An adaptation based on a bestselling satirical novel sets out to undermine the Putin cult by framing him not as a cause but as a symptom, shifting the narrative weight to the political machinery around him.

The Fable of the Hesitant President

In the film, Putin is presented as having been chosen by powerful oligarchs to steady the country because he is “young, athletic and a spy”. The oligarchs approach him and practically plead him to become president. He replies is that he would rather govern from the background, seeking permanent power.

This narrative is the Kremlin’s export myth: the detached, unwilling mastermind guided by fate. Historically, these events took place.

The Truth Behind the Selection

No one actually pleaded with Putin to take the job. The position was effectively a casting call with many 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 included several politicians, including a reformer later murdered and a former spy chief.
• According to an expert who researched Putin’s biography, the future president merely met the necessary criteria: loyal, from the intelligence world, and not a communist or a liberal.
• A property developer familiar with the process said 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 image of him as a powerful KGB spy was built after the fact. Stories about his “recruitment work” in East Germany fall apart under examination. Fundamentally, he was an administrator and technical tasks, a low-level clerk not engaged in field operations.

Interestingly, the shift to framing him as a “007” could partly have been inspired by the actor's debut as 007. His harder interpretation led local outlets and social media to draw visual parallels with their leader. Edited images swapping Craig’s face with Putin’s surfaced on city centers, feeding the increasing trend to frame him as a local secret agent.

A Propaganda Win?

Given the casting, an star well-liked by Russian audiences, the authorities will not miss the chance to frame his casting as a small victory. Its exclusion of public dissent, the political rivals, or key figures from its narrative, despite covering the past decade, is a pleasant bonus for state propaganda.

Domestically, Putin is often an all-powerful presence who never appears directly. His influence is hinted at through photographs or calls “from above”. In this new film, he finally acquires a recognizable face—one that may inadvertently validate the very myths it might seek to examine.