The Death of Stalin trailer: First look at Armando Iannucci's star studded comedy

Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor tussle for control in Iannucci's political comedy
Emma Powell11 August 2017
The Weekender

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The current political climate is far from funny – but Armando Iannucci’s new satire looks set to leave viewers belly-laughing.

The trailer for The Death of Stalin has been unveiled, and it’s promising full-on comedy and a star-studded cast.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Fabien Nury, the film depicts a fictionalised account of the chaotic fallout after the sudden death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1953.

Adrian McLoughlin plays the dying Russian dictator whose death results in a power struggle among a handful of senior members who set their sights on taking over the vacant position.

Kiss my a***: Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov

Steve Buscemi stars as Nikita Khrushchev, Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov, Simon Russell Beale as Lavrentiy Beria, Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov, Paul Chahidi as Nicolai Bulganin and Paul Whitehouse as Anastas Mikoyan.

Rupert Friend and Andrea Riseborough take on Stalin’s children, Vasily and Svetlana, respectively.

The two minute trailer, which is littered with expletives and features no Russian accents, kicks off with the discovery of Stalin's body before wrapping up with Malenkov telling his competition: “You know, all of you can kiss my Russian a****.”

The film marks Iannucci’s first since directing 2009’s In the Loop – a big screen spin-off of The Thick Of It.

Latest film reviews

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The Death of Stalin is slated for cinema release on October 20.

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