Vertical opens Olivier Assayas’ political thriller The Wizard of the Kremlin , delving into the Byzantine politics of post-Soviet Russia and the rise to power of Vladimir Putin, on 582 screens. It stars Jude Law as Putin, a cold-blooded, ruthlessly power-hungry KGB agent. Paul Dano is spin doctor and adviser Vadim Baranov, a fictitious character loosely inspired by real-life Russian politician Vladislav Surkov.

Premiered at Venice, see Deadline review , going on to screen at TIFF, San Sebastian and BFI London. Adapted by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère from the 2022 novel by Giuliano da Empoli.

Alicia Vikander plays Baranov’s wife Ksenia and Tom Sturridge a banker and oligarch based on former oil and gas baron Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was jailed after challenging Putin’s grip on power.…