The Master and Margarita – Watch the trailer for the film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel

Following a lengthy battle over creative freedom and attempts at state censorship in its native Russia, THE MASTER AND MARGARITA is set for a U.S. theatrical release on September 18th, 2026 from distributor Luminosity Pictures. Shot right before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and originally slated for a Universal Pictures release, the film became the highest-grossing 18+ release in Russian history despite pro-Kremlin censorship attempts for its anti-authoritarian themes and filmmaker Michael Lockshin’s public support for Ukraine.

Equal parts biting political satire and sweeping romance, THE MASTER AND MARGARITA was directed and co-written by Michael Lockshin and stars August Diehl (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A HIDDEN LIFE), Yevgeny Tsyganov, Yuliya Snigir and Claes Bang (THE SQUARE; THE NORTHMAN).

Based on the seminal Soviet novel from Kyiv-born author Mikhail Bulgakov, THE MASTER AND MARGARITA intertwines the novel’s multiple storylines with the writer’s own biography. It tells the story of a writer in 1930s Moscow who after being censored by the state, decides to write a new novel in which the Devil arrives to wreak havoc onto the corrupt bureaucrats who have done him wrong. The novel and film’s subject matter has stark parallels to the modern-day Kremlin’s removal of scenes deemed too critical and even Lockshin’s name during its Russian release. The director’s cut release from Luminosity Pictures restores the film to the version originally intended by Lockshin.

The film was released in Russia late January of 2024 amid a battle for creative control set to the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequently broke Russian box office records. After its successful theatrical releases in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Italy and other countries last year, THE MASTER AND MARGARITA is finally reaching American audiences in a triumph of artistic integrity in the face of authoritarian governments across the world that increasingly seek to suppress its artists, protestors and dissidents.

“Bulgakov’s novel juggles genres and storylines – it’s very funny, deeply philosophical and emotional. There’s a lot going on in it, and finding the key to the adaptation, and seeing how audiences have responded – both fans of the novel and those who were discovering it for the first time – has been a true honor and joy that made this tumultuous journey worth it. When we started working on the film, we couldn’t have foreseen that a story about censorship and standing up for truth set in the 1930s would turn out to be so much about the present – in Russia and beyond it. I’m very grateful to the people who came on board and pushed forward to get this film out despite the geopolitical and legal issues,” says director Michael Lockshin.

Luminosity Pictures’ Peter Hoffman: “For more than 25 years, my companies have sought to finance and distribute a film adaptation of the extraordinary novel THE MASTER AND MARGARITA. When colleagues gave me the opportunity to view Michael Lockshin’s brilliant adaptation of this literary masterpiece, I immediately sought out the Russian producers to bring this unique film to audiences outside the Russian Federation, and they entrusted Luminosity Pictures with that opportunity. This has truly been a passion project for me, and everyone involved has poured their hearts into honoring Bulgakov’s remarkable novel. We hope audiences are swept away by its romance, imagination, and timeless themes, and discover why this extraordinary story has captivated readers around the world for generations.”

THE MASTER AND MARGARITA is produced by Ruben Dishdishyan, Leonard Blavatnik, Igor Tolstunov and Anatoly Akimenko, directed by Michael Lockshin and written by Roman Kantor and Michael Lockshin.

Michael Lockshin grew up between the U.S. and Russia. He holds an MA in psychology from Moscow State University. After a decade directing commercials and music videos, he made his feature debut with SILVER SKATES (2020), the first Russian-language Netflix Original film. THE MASTER AND MARGARITA (2024) is his second feature. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he has fully moved to the U.S. Lockshin is represented by 42’s Josh Varney and Peter Dealbert, and by Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.

Luminosity Pictures was formed in 2023 as the continuation of the film production and distribution business of industry veterans Daniel Diamond, Elie Samaha, and Peter Hoffman. Focused on producing, acquiring, and distributing premium commercial feature films for worldwide audiences, with a growing pipeline of films spanning prestige dramas, elevated thrillers, romantic comedies, and commercial genre entertainment.

Luminosity Pictures also serves as the international sales agent for the upcoming prison siege thriller Eleven Days, starring Diego Luna, Taylor Kitsch, Rhea Seehorn, Jason Isaacs, and Jennifer Carpenter. Additional titles represented by Luminosity include the recently released romantic comedy 40 Dates in 40 Nights and the upcoming romantic comedy A Murder Uncorked, currently in pre-production, with Emma Roberts and Lucas Bravo attached to star.