Paul Dano plays the fictional 'Wizard' behind Putin in new movie NPR | By Sarah Handel, Mary Louise Kelly, Tyler Bartlam Published May 14, 2026 at 1:34 PM PDT Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 8:15 NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Paul Dano about starring in The Wizard of the Kremlin, and playing the man pulling the strings for a fictional Vladimir Putin. Copyright 2026 NPR