Netflix has set a global premiere date for Vladimir, its upcoming limited series starring Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz. The streaming service announced that the provocative show, based on the bestselling novel by Julia May Jonas, will launch worldwide on March 5, 2026. Alongside the date announcement, Netflix released first-look photos teasing the intense dynamic between Weisz’s character and her younger colleague, played by Leo Woodall.
Vladimir Netflix Series Release Date and Streaming Details
The series Vladimir will be available to stream everywhere on Wednesday, March 5, 2026. Netflix confirmed the date as part of its “Next on Netflix” preview. The show will debut all eight of its episodes at once, following the platform’s common release model for limited series. This places it among other major Netflix releases scheduled for early 2026.
Filming for the series took place in Toronto, Canada. Production began on July 2, 2025, and continued through September of the same year. The project is a production of 20th Television, in association with Sharon Horgan’s Merman and Small Dog Picture Company.
Full Cast and Character Details for the New Series
Vladimir features a top-tier ensemble cast led by Rachel Weisz. She plays an unnamed literature professor, referred to as M, whose life begins to spiral. Opposite her is Leo Woodall as the titular Vladimir, a charismatic young writer who joins the faculty and becomes the object of her obsession.
The main cast includes several other notable names. John Slattery portrays John, the professor’s husband, whose past actions cause a major scandal. Ellen Robertson plays Sid, the professor’s daughter. Jessica Henwick is featured as Cynthia, Vladimir’s enigmatic wife.
The series also boasts a strong list of actors in recurring roles. This group includes Matt Walsh (David), Kayli Carter (Lila), Miriam Silverman (Florence), Mallori Johnson (Edwina), Tattiawna Jones (Alexis), and Louise Lambert (Dawn).
Plot and Story: A Professor’s Dangerous Obsession
The official logline describes the series as a story of seduction and obsession. It states: “When a passionate but reckless professor’s world begins to unravel, she finds herself dangerously fixated on her magnetic new colleague. As boundaries blur and secrets simmer, she’ll risk everything to bring her most scandalous fantasies to life”.
The plot finds the protagonist at a personal and professional crossroads. Her writing career has stalled, her once-popular college course is losing students, and her relationship with her daughter is strained. To make matters more intense, her husband John faces a serious inquiry from the college over past conduct with students, threatening their life and reputation. Into this turmoil walks Vladimir, who reignites a powerful sense of desire and fantasy in the professor.
“It explores what women feel like they’re allowed to desire, and how they’re allowed to desire,” said creator Julia May Jonas about the show’s core theme.
Rachel Weisz described the series as a mix of comedy and drama, calling it a “heightened fairy tale” that tackles serious subjects. The story is told from the professor’s point of view, making the reality of her interactions with Vladimir purposefully ambiguous.
Creative Team and Show Inspiration
Vladimir is an adaptation of the acclaimed 2022 novel of the same name by Julia May Jonas. Jonas serves as the creator, writer, and an executive producer for the television adaptation, helping to guide her story to the screen.
The series is showrun by Kate Robin, who also executive produces. Directing duties are shared among several filmmakers. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini directed the first two episodes and also executive produce. Francesca Gregorini directed episodes three, six, and seven, while Josephine Bornebusch directed episodes four and five.
In addition to starring, Rachel Weisz is an executive producer on the project. Other executive producers include Sharon Horgan, Stacey Greenberg, and Kira Carstensen from Merman, as well as Jason Winer and Jon Radler from Small Dog Picture Company.
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What Makes This Series Unique
The series consciously reverses a common literary and cinematic trope. Instead of an older man obsessed with a younger woman, Vladimir focuses on the desires and fantasies of a middle-aged woman. Creator Julia May Jonas explained the deliberate choice behind the title.
“It’s a nod to novels that name themselves after the young woman who the man is obsessed with,” Jonas said. “This is the subject of fixation that we’re going to be talking about, and I wanted to flip the script and have it be coming from a woman’s perspective”.
A key narrative device is the use of direct address, where Weisz’s character speaks her thoughts directly to the camera. This technique gives viewers access to her inner world but also highlights the gap between her fantasies and reality. Leo Woodall noted that this perspective leaves his character’s true intentions open to interpretation.
“Was that flirting? Was it friendliness? Am I making this up? Is it real? Am I crazy? It’s for every audience member to interpret,” Woodall said about the dynamic between the two characters.
The show is set in the world of academia, which provides a specific atmosphere of intellectual rivalry, campus politics, and contained drama. Early fan reactions on social media have pointed to the intense chemistry shown in the first-look images, with many viewers expressing excitement for the series.
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