Cosmo Jarvis to Star as Stalin in Pre-Revolutionary Heist Drama

A new international feature film titled Young Stalin is set to dramatize the early, violent rise of one of the 20th century’s most notorious figures. The project, directed by Géla Babluani, will chronicle the transformation of a young Joseph Stalin—then known by his childhood nickname “Soso”—from a revolutionary idealist into a ruthless operator within the Bolshevik movement.

The story focuses on a key moment in Stalin’s early career: the 1907 Tbilisi bank heist, a bold armed robbery carried out to fund revolutionary activities. Described as the “Wild Wild East,” the setting features clashes between Cossacks, Tsarist secret police, proto-fascist groups, and armed Bolsheviks, all vying for power in a volatile pre-revolutionary Russian Empire.

The film is produced by a wide-ranging international team, including Archil Gelovani, Sergey Yahontov, Sam Taylor, Len Blavatnik, and others. Cosmo Jarvis will take on the role of the young Stalin, bringing the infamous historical figure’s lesser-known criminal past to the screen.

While the main filming will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia, one of the production bases is registered in Budapest, underscoring Hungary’s continued role in supporting international film projects.

The project is backed by Independent Film Project, Film & Music Entertainment, and Access Entertainment, with production expected to move forward later this year.