Military Shot: Gleb Kalyuzhny makes his directorial debut after the army

The star of the historical detective action film "Red Silk", the teen melodrama "14+", the drama "Black Spring" and the comedy "Vampires of the Middle Lane" Gleb Kalyuzhny has completed his military service. On May 26, the actor was discharged from the Semenovsky regiment. After returning to civilian life, he intends to release a new music album, star in the sequel to the blockbuster and try his hand at directing for the first time. His mother, friends, fans, and Izvestia correspondents met him at the checkpoint.

Gleb Kalyuzhny returned from the army

At exactly 9:55 a.m., behind the high fence at the checkpoint of the Semenovsky regiment, a loud "We wish you good health, comrade sergeant major." Meanwhile, several dozen journalists had already gathered outside to meet Gleb Kalyuzhny, one of the most sought—after young Russian actors today. By the age of 27, he had a solid list of works in his filmography: the debut teenage melodrama "14+" and its sequel, the Russian-Chinese detective action film "Red Silk", the comedy "Vampires of the Middle Lane", the drama "Black Spring", "The First on Olympus" about the USSR Olympic rowing champion Yuri Tyukalov and others.

Exactly one year ago, Izvestia escorted Kalyuzhny to the army. Then, at the military commissariat assembly point on Ugreshskaya Street, the artist appeared in a cheerful mood and almost theatrically — he arrived with friends in a black jeep, from the speakers of which recognizable music from the TV series "Soldiers" sounded.

After due time, the actor returned to civilian life with the rank of junior sergeant and with a noticeably matured character — handsome in uniform, restrained, calm.

"I am surprised to see all of you and very glad. Thank you for meeting me. I am very pleased," "The service went as it should have," "There were no disciplinary offenses," he answered briefly to numerous questions from journalists.

The actor served in the Semenovsky Regiment, one of the first two infantry regiments of the Russian Imperial Guard. During the break in work, I did not lose it, but gained it.

"I think I've changed for the better," the actor said. — The army is a school of life that needs to be completed. You can't tell me in two words.

When asked if he had received a call sign, he replied that he was jokingly called the Frame.

"It was scary to be left without his help"

The first strong hugs were for Gleb's worried mother Natalia and his younger sister Masha. They came with a magnificent bouquet of daisies, and the day before they painted a large poster.

— He has become a real man, speaks differently and has slowed down in a good way. There was a new inflection in his voice. I'm listening and I'm happy, I'm very glad that such an experience happened. Our guys need him," Natalia Kalyuzhnaya said.

However, if masculinity is measured by actions, then Gleb was a real man before his service. When he was still a young guy, he became the head of the family.

— Since Masha's birth, Gleb has been my support and support. It so happened that I raised my children alone. It was scary to be left without his help," Natalia shared.

Kalyuzhny's colleagues and friends did not leave the artist's mother for the period of his military service in the army. We helped her with her movie work. She became one of the producers of the upcoming film "Grandfather Fomich". This family comedy will be Gleb's first major premiere after demob. The film will be released on July 2, 2026.

— We were lucky enough to work together in the movie "Grandfather Fomich". The relationship on the court was great. Gleb is a great partner and a great professional, so everything worked out for us. This is a kind story about love, family and a conversation about eternal topics," actor Alexander Novikov, who also came to meet Gleb, told Izvestia.

Kalyuzhny's role here is not only on the screen. He also became the creative producer of the project. In the story, a pensioner embarks on a desperate adventure — he pretends to be terminally ill in order to gather his children and grandchildren at the same table.

— He's an amazing guy, calm, simple, without a stellar illness. He's got some cool movies right now, but thank God it hasn't clogged up his head— he's still a normal kid. And what serves is doubly well done. After the army, you feel stronger on this earth," actor Nikolai Dobrynin, who played Grandfather Fomich, told Izvestia.

What will Gleb Kalyuzhny do after the army

Among the audience was a fan of the young artist. However, she is not interested in Kalyuzhny's film work, but in his musical achievements.

— I brought a gift — a military calendar and something else. I've been following him for ten years. One day I came across his tracks, listened to them once and got caught up," Valeria Razderishchenko shared with Izvestia.

The artist is planning a new music album in the near future. The material is already ready, I worked on it, including during the service. He confessed that he had written more than one notebook.

This is followed by work on an international scale. In 2027, the long—awaited sequel to the detective historical action film "Red Silk" will take place - the first part of the Russian-Chinese project was successfully released in both countries in 2025. Kalyuzhny has one of the leading roles.

The new film is called "Black Silk". The action of the new series promises to be stronger in everything: in terms of the sharpness of the plot, the scale of the scenery, and the cast. The events will take place in the early 1930s, on a Japanese liner, a Zeppelin airship and on the streets of Shanghai — the "Asian New York" of those years.

In addition, Gleb Kalyuzhny plans to make his directorial debut, said his agent Grigory Sukhov. Details of the future project have not yet been disclosed.