Netflix viewers have been left floored after an ‘insane’ teaser poster appeared to reference Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Adapted from Julia May Jonas’ novel of the same name, Netflix has released their first look images for Vladimir, an eight-part series portraying a woman’s growing obsession with a colleague.
Starring Rachel Weisz as a middle-aged professor, her character’s life begins to unravel as she becomes infatuated with her younger co-worker, played by Leo Woodall.
Set to release on March 5 on the streaming platform, fans were, however, rather taken back by the cover of a new poster for the series.
Taking to X, fans joked whether Rachel was playing the Russian president in a ‘surprise casting move’.
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Meanwhile, Matthew questioned: ‘Is this a show about Putin?’
Others were quick to highlight the graphic nature of the poster, which features a hand reaching into the pages of a book.
Mac commented on X: ‘Insane cover,’ as @Anime__barrel added: ‘That certainly a way to sell a poster…’
Discussing the new series, Julia – who is at the helm of the show after adapting it from her 2022 novel – said: ‘It explores what women feel like they’re allowed to desire, and how they’re allowed to desire.
‘She’s relatable because of her insecurities about aging and her fears that as you grow into an older woman, you’re asked to want less, take up less space, be more of service.’
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No longer feeling sexually desired in her marriage to fellow professor, John (John Slattery), the unnamed protagonist is swept up by an all-powerful crush on Vladimir (Leo), who is a hot-shot young writer married to Cynthia (Jessica Henwick).
Adding her take on the series, Rachel told Netflix: ‘The series explores themes related to desire, obsession, sexuality, lust. It also delves into the world of campus gender politics and cancel culture.
‘There’s definitely comedy and drama. It’s mischievous and a good tonal cocktail for exploring some very serious subjects and issues.
‘Her fantasy is about the power of desire — the invigorating, stimulating, inspiring, and revivifying feeling that she gets from her obsession with Vlad. What it’s about is coming back to life in a certain way [after lying] dormant for some time.’
Describing the title, Julia said it is a nod to novels that ‘name themselves after the young woman who the man is obsessed with’, adding that she wanted to ‘flip the script’ and show it from a woman’s perspective.
A summary of the series states: ‘When a passionate but reckless professor’s world begins to unravel, she finds herself dangerously fixated on her magnetic new colleague.’
The release of the new first look images comes after a recent Netflix release stormed up the streaming platform’s rankings following a twist ‘that you will never see coming’.
Vladimir will be available to watch on Netflix on March 5.
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