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Last year, star Jude Law remarked he had no concerns about backlash for portraying the Russian leader in a new film. This production, however, may align so closely with the mythologized image circulated by Russian state media that, within Russia, it functions as a endorsement instead of a critique.

The Crafted Superhero

Over a long period, the Russian political apparatus and the country's entertainment industry have worked together to forge a tailor-made version of the president. This figure is a political superhero without age or mistakes, a former spy 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

A notable instance is a TV series released last fall, directed by a pro-government filmmaker. Its main character is a fictional blue-eyed lieutenant colonel selected by fate to “rescue” Russia from disorder. While he is called a different name, the implication is clear: the hero must be a familiar security officer.

Western portrayals often end up buttressing this identical story rather than debunking it. A new film based on a bestselling satirical novel aims to subvert the Putin cult by presenting him not as a cause but as a symptom, shifting the focus to the political machinery around him.

The Myth of the Reluctant Leader

On screen, Putin is presented as having been picked by powerful oligarchs to stabilise the country because he is “a fit former intelligence agent”. The oligarchs approach him and practically plead him to become president. His response is that he would rather govern from the shadows, seeking permanent power.

This narrative is the Kremlin’s export myth: the cool, reluctant strategist guided by fate. Historically, these events took place.

The Reality of the Casting Call

Nobody actually pleaded with Putin to accept the role. The presidency was in essence a selection process with many candidates. At the centre to the selection stood a powerful businessman from the Yeltsin era who expected to run the state in practice.

• The shortlist included various figures, including a reformer subsequently assassinated and a former spy chief.
• According to a journalist who studied his rise, the chosen candidate simply fitted the required parameters: loyal, from the security services, and politically neutral.
• A businessman close to the events stated the key criterion was manageability and faithfulness, not leadership.

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

Building the 007 Persona

Experts agree that the image of Putin as a master operative was built after the fact. Claims about his clandestine activities in East Germany do not stand up to scrutiny. Fundamentally, he was an administrator and routine duties, a mid-level functionary not engaged in field operations.

Interestingly, the move to framing him as a “spy” could partly have been inspired by the actor's arrival as James Bond. His harder interpretation prompted local outlets and online audiences to draw visual parallels with Putin. Mashup posters replacing Craig’s face with Putin’s appeared on Moscow streets, fueling the increasing trend to see him as a Russian 007.

A Propaganda Win?

Given the casting, an actor popular with viewers there, the authorities will not miss the chance to portray this choice as a minor diplomatic triumph. Its omission of mass protests, the political rivals, or key figures in the story, even though it includes recent years, is a welcome aspect for official messaging.

Domestically, Putin is frequently an omnipotent figure who remains unseen on screen. He is hinted at through portraits or calls “from above”. Now, he at last gets a famous actor's visage—one that may inadvertently echo the exact legends it perhaps aims to examine.