Jude Law has undergone a dramatic transformation to play Russian President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming biopic The Wizard of the Kremlin – but fans think he looks like someone else
A photograph of Jude Law in the forthcoming biographical film about Vladimir Putin has prompted viewers to draw comparisons with an unexpected screen icon. The Wizard of the Kremlin, which debuted at the Venice Film Festival, features Law taking on the role of the Russian president Putin.
Law’s depiction of the President in the upcoming Hollywood production sparked surprising parallels to another screen performer who has become a fixture of television and now major films. The Marvel star was suggested as the surprising doppelganger to Law’s interpretation of Putin, with a photograph from the movie posted on social media site X.
In a post that has since gone viral on X, members of the public reckon Law bears a resemblance to a star of The Office rather than the 72-year-old President.
One viewer commented: “Wasn’t sure what the Jude Law as Vladimir Putin makeup was gonna look like but I wasn’t expecting Martin Freeman.” Another joked: “They could’ve just cut out the middle man.”
A third remarked: “I saw the photo in my feed first, read the tweet, looked back at the photo, thought the exact same thing, and then looked up and read your comment. Jude Law out here having the audacity to steal work from Martin Freeman.”
Some were thrilled by another connection between the two careers, with both Law and Freeman having played Sherlock Holmes’ companion, Doctor John Watson, in different versions of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories. One viewer wrote: “That’s why they both played Watson.”
Another added: “Spot on. They should have gone with Freeman… would have been cheaper, too (I guess, not only on the makeup-department).”
Some fans felt that Law was a poor choice for the role and didn’t want Freeman to step in either. One user asked: “Why would they go with Jude Law for Putin when Mads Mikkelson exists.”
Another joked: “I thought that was Phil Collins.” Some were even thrown off by Paul Dano’s appearance, mistaking his role in the film for Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes adaptation.
One baffled viewer wrote: “I wondered why they were using a still from Sherlock, but that’s not Martin Freeman and that’s not Benedict Cumberbatch.”
Another confused fan added: “I genuinely thought it was Martin Freeman and the dark haired guy was Jude Law.” A third shared: “For real, I thought BBC Sherlock was coming back.”
Others believe the resemblance between Law and Freeman should have led to the latter’s casting. One person questioned: “Why didn’t they just hire Martin Freeman? I mean nothing against Law but it is funny.”
Another joked: “We need Martin Freeman to play Jude law in the movie about the making of this movie.” A third wrote: “Honestly could have saved money on make up just casting Freeman instead.”
