Jude Law reveals why he doesn't fear any repercussions for playing Vladimir Putin in new film

Jude Law revealed he is not scared of backlash from Vladimir Putin after playing him in a film.

The Talented Mr. Ripley actor's striking transformation into the Russian president had been one of the a major talking points at Venice Film Festival, which held a screening for his upcoming film, The Wizard of the Kremlin.

The film, which has been adapted from a book of the same name and directed by Olivier Assayas, documents the turbulent birth of the Russian Federation during the 1990s.

It follows a fictional character by the name of Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) who goes from being a young artist during the dying days of the Soviet Union into a powerful spin doctor at the heart of Russia's government.

As for the man who emerges from the chaos in the driving seat of Russia? That would be a former KGB officer and former deputy mayor of St Petersburg named Vladimir Putin.

Now I were Vladimir Putin, I'd be quite flattered to see that Jude Law had been picked to play me in a film (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Now it would be understandable if an actor were to feel a little cautious about stepping into the shoes of such a forbidding figure, but not the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew star.

Speaking at a press conference for the film, The Holiday actor explained that Assayas had created a film which isn't 'controversy for controversy’s sake'.

"I hope not naïvely, but no, I didn’t fear repercussions," he explained after the screening (via Metro).

"I felt confident in the hands of Olivier and the script and that this was a story that was going to be told intelligently and with nuance and consideration."

Law went on to explain that his depiction of Putin is a 'character within a broader story', adding that The Wizard of the Kremlin isn't 'trying to define anything about anyone'.

Jude Law as Vladimir Putin (Gaumont)

"[Assayas] didn’t want me to hide behind a mask of prosthetics," he added.

"Nonetheless, he works with an amazing makeup and hair team. We had a lot of reference for that period of Putin’s life, and we just tried to find a familiarity on me. It’s amazing what a great wig can do!"

Law also spoke about the difficulties of nailing down Putin's infamous poker face for the film. "The tricky side to me was that the public face that we see gives very, very little away," the 52-year-old explained.

Vladimir Putin in the 1990s, roughly around the time in which The Wizard of the Kremlin takes place (AFP via Getty Images)

The actor even revealed that he'd become an 'obsessive' Putin watcher while preparing for the role, tirelessly researching the president's walking style and mannerisms.

"There's a lot of footage one could watch and, personally when I start going down that rabbit hole, it becomes sort of obsessive," he added.

The Wizard of the Kremlin is currently scheduled for release in 2026.