Russian actor Dmitry Dyuzhev has accused the creators of the new Spider-Man film of using the superhero blockbuster as a psychotropic weapon aimed at controlling international audiences.
Speaking in an interview with the online media project Dorogaya Redaktsiya, the star stated that the latest installment in the Marvel franchise contains embedded messaging designed to turn viewers against Russia.
Dyuzhev claimed that the movie systematically instills paranoia by suggesting that ordinary people and public figures could secretly be working for foreign intelligence. He said that intelligent and observant viewers would notice how the film implants ideas into the minds of the audience, leading them to believe that familiar acquaintances or even elected presidents might actually be secret Russian agents.
Actor background and television career
Dyuzhev is one of the most recognizable figures in Russian popular culture, having achieved national fame in the early 2000s. He gained widespread popularity for his portrayal of Cosmos in the hit crime drama television series Brigada, a major cultural phenomenon in Russia, and has since appeared in numerous high-profile film and theatrical productions across the country.
The film in question, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is the latest feature in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe, a global entertainment franchise produced by Marvel Studios. Spider-Man remains one of the highest-grossing comic book hero properties in international cinema history.
Cinema release controversy
The actor's comments follow a recent online controversy surrounding the distribution of the superhero film in domestic cinemas. Fans of the Marvel franchise previously targeted the rating of the Russian feature film Kolobok after movie theaters were asked to delay the local release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to support the domestic motion picture.
Kolobok is based on a traditional East Slavic fairy tale about a wandering loaf of bread, a well-known character in Russian folklore that has inspired various literary and animated adaptations. Russian theatrical exhibitors have frequently adjusted screening schedules to bolster domestic film projects against major Hollywood releases.
