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Last year, actor Jude Law stated he “didn’t fear any repercussions” for portraying Vladimir Putin in a cinematic adaptation. This production, however, may align too neatly with the carefully constructed image circulated by Russian state media that, within Russia, it reads as a endorsement instead of a critique.

The Crafted Superhero

For years, the Kremlin and its entertainment industry have collaborated to craft a made-to-measure version of the president. This figure is a political superhero without age or mistakes, an ex-intelligence officer reimagined as a local 007 who always knows more than he reveals.

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

Screen-Based Support

One recent example is a TV series launched last fall, helmed by a pro-government filmmaker. The protagonist is a invented security officer inexplicably chosen to “save” Russia from chaos. Although the character's name a different name, the message is unmistakable: the savior must be a known figure from the secret services.

Western portrayals frequently result in buttressing this identical story rather than debunking it. A new film based on a popular book sets out to subvert the Putin cult by framing him as a symptom but as a consequence, shifting the narrative weight to the political machinery surrounding him.

The Myth of the Reluctant Leader

In the film, Putin is presented as having been picked by influential figures to stabilise the country because he is “a fit former intelligence agent”. The oligarchs approach him and all but beg him to take the top job. He replies is that he would rather govern from the shadows, seeking enduring influence.

This tale is the Kremlin’s export myth: the detached, unwilling mastermind shaped by destiny. Historically, none of this took place.

The Truth Behind the Selection

No one actually pleaded with him to take the job. The presidency was effectively a selection process with many candidates. Central to this process stood a powerful businessman from the previous administration who planned to control the country in practice.

• The shortlist included various figures, including an opposition leader subsequently assassinated and a former spy chief.
• According to an expert who researched his rise, the future president simply fitted the required parameters: obedient, from the intelligence world, and politically neutral.
• A businessman close to the events said the key criterion was controllability and faithfulness, not strength.

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

Building the 007 Persona

Experts agree that the notion of Putin as a master operative was constructed retrospectively. Claims about his clandestine activities in East Germany do not stand up to scrutiny. Fundamentally, he was an administrator and technical tasks, a mid-level functionary not engaged in actual agent work.

Interestingly, the shift to framing him as a “spy” could partly have been triggered by the actor's debut as James Bond. His harder interpretation prompted local outlets and social media to make comparisons with Putin. Edited images replacing Craig’s face with Putin’s appeared on Moscow streets, fueling the increasing trend to frame him as a local secret agent.

A Propaganda Win?

Given the casting, an actor popular with viewers there, the Kremlin are likely to seize the chance to portray this choice as a minor diplomatic triumph. The film's omission of public dissent, the political rivals, or prominent activists from its narrative, even though it includes recent years, is a pleasant bonus for state propaganda.

Domestically, the president is frequently an all-powerful presence who never appears on screen. He is signaled through portraits or orders from on high. Now, he finally acquires a famous actor's visage—one that could unintentionally validate the very myths it perhaps aims to question.