By Crispian Balmer

VENICE (Reuters) -Jude Law said on Sunday he did not fear reprisals for playing Russian President Vladimir Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin”, a new film premiering at the Venice Film Festival that offers a chilling, fictionalised look at Putin’s rise to power.

“The Wizard of the Kremlin”, directed by France’s Olivier Assayas and also starring Paul Dano, shows Putin ruthlessly disposing of people who cross his path.

Asked by reporters if he was worried about possible retaliation for taking on the role, Law said: “I hope not naively, but … I didn’t fear repercussions.”

The British actor added that the film recounted Putin’s single-minded ascendancy “with nuance and consideration. We weren’t looking for controversy for controversy’s sake”.

Based on a best-selling no

See Full Page