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Netflix’s upcoming erotic thriller TV show is one of the most interesting additions to the genre in a long time, and it’s bound to excite fans of the genre. Erotic thrillers were once the answer to restrictions on graphic content, blending together danger, romance, and softcore sex scenes.
Although the genre waned throughout the 2000s and 2010s, great erotic thrillers have had a resurgence in popularity over the past few years, both onscreen and in writing. One of the best thriller books in the subgenre is getting an adaptation on Netflix that will titillate and chill viewers.
Netflix Is Adapting Vladimir By Julia May Jones
The 2022 book Vladimir by Julia May Jones is a daring and provocative novel that explores complex power dynamics, feminism, and obsession. The book is lauded for its sharp writing and subversiveness. It’s the kind of novel that will get people talking about uncomfortable but necessary topics.
Vladimir centers on an unnamed 58-year-old professor, called M in the show, at a liberal arts college, who becomes fixated on her younger colleague, Vladimir Vladisnky. She spirals into a deep obsession when her marriage is already under a microscope.
Her professor husband is being investigated for having sexual relationships with his former students. Her newfound desire could ruin their careers and lives, but she’s determined to make them a reality.
Now, four years after the book’s release, the story is coming to the small screen. Julia May Jones is leading the on-screen adaptation of her book, ensuring it remains faithful to the novel. The limited Netflix series will release on March 5, 2026.
Vladimir Has An All-Star Cast To Bolster The Story
Erotic thrillers walk a fine line between exploring complicated sexual desires and romanticizing them. Many shows and movies have fallen into the latter category because they weren’t handled with enough care. It takes a solid creative team and a formidable cast to handle such delicate subject matter.
Luckily, Vladimir is in good hands. Beyond the author creating the show, the cast is more than capable of handling the story. What’s more, they’re enjoyable to watch.
Rachel Weisz and John Slattery, who will play M and her husband, are seasoned actors. Leo Woodall, who will play Vladimir, might be a newer actor, but he’s already handled difficult stories well. He appeared in the movie Nuremberg and Netflix’s One Day and
Vladimir Flips The Script Of Traditional Power Dynamic Erotic Thrillers
Elicit or taboo relationships are the lifeblood of erotic thrillers. Traditionally, this comes in the form of a young, seemingly innocent femme fatale who lures an older or more powerful man into a sexual relationship that will ruin his life.
This isn’t the case in Vladimir, which flips the script. The middle-aged woman is the one obsessing over and pursuing a younger, attractive man. Her life is the one on the line if her obsessions become a reality. Recently, Nicole Kidman tried this type of storyline in a feature film. While Babygirl was praised by most critics, audiences were less than happy with the film. Vladimir could do it better.
Additionally, the power dynamics are much more complex as M is an older woman who’s not expected to have sexual desires, and Vladimir is a successful young man in the prime of his career. Ultimately, if they adapt the book effectively, Vladimir is bound to be one of the most interesting erotic thrillers in a long time.
