The project known as Difficult Childhood is a prequel concept to the film The Plague Doctor. Initially imagined as a separate script written about a year ago, the creators described it as a short film. Over time, Igor Grom’s backstory and the environment that shaped him expanded into a feature-length tale with a planned running time of eighty minutes. The makers emphasize that this new chapter in the Thunder universe will complete the first film while also standing on its own for first-time viewers.
Regarding the special scene, director Oleg Trofim explained that Groms early years will carry distinct markings from the era, yet the portrayal remains an alternate version of the Northern capital seen through the gaze of a child. The team aims to capture the 90s atmosphere with a childlike perspective, creating a theme they describe as looking through rose-tinted glasses. Some scenes will be shot using old VHS aesthetics to reinforce that period texture.
The intimate space of Little Thunder is unusual in its own right. The boy lives with his father Konstantin, a police major, in a setting recreated at Lenfilm that resembles what appeared in the first movie. The apartment becomes a stage for the small world of a future defender of justice, with touches of 90s pop culture on the walls. Posters of the X-Files and a Terminator film adorn the living space, and a table spread with coloring books and plastic rainbow felt-tip pens serves as a nostalgic symbol of that era.
Who plays the young Igor Grom, and who is the father and hero in this Kiev-styled origin?
Details about the cast of Difficult Childhood have been kept under wraps, but recent information has surfaced. The role of young Igor Grom goes to 14-year-old Kai Getz, who previously charmed audiences in Drama Tell Her. His friend, previously played in the first episode by Kievstoner, is portrayed by 13-year-old Vladimir Yaganov. Konstantin Grom, Igor’s father, is brought to life by Sergey Marin, a familiar face from the historical series Catherine and the project The Cathedral.
Marin describes the project as more than a simple tale. He sees it as an exploration of the evolving dynamic between father and son in Igor’s formation, reflecting the traits he inherits from both parents. Marin states that the story concerns being and growing, friendship, acceptance, and love. He notes a shared commitment to honest work and an opportunity to explain the roots of Igor Grom’s idealism and his drive to make the world better.
Kai Getz, interpreting Thunder Jr., shares his view of the boy Igor. He envisions a St. Petersburg crime beat transformed by childhood into a fragile and defenseless vantage point. Getz describes a modest boy who sometimes lacks confidence yet consistently takes risks. Before filming, he studied The Plague Doctor to understand Igor’s adulthood, his emotional expression, and his inner spark. The prequel will reveal how Igor Grom’s character and his relationship with his father matured, and how a single missed moment could destabilize their balance as work and duty pull them apart.
Fedor Prokopenko, a police colonel who later becomes Igor Grom’s boss, appears in the story not as a superior in the main arc but as a colleague of Konstantin Grom. The role of Prokopenko is carried by Alexei Vedernikov, a Petersburg-based actor—an addition that enriches the world of the younger Grom without disrupting the trajectory seen in The Plague Doctor.
Where and when can the movie be watched?
The film is produced with support from Kinopoisk and is slated for release in the upcoming winter season. Initially, the producers contemplated an online premiere exclusively on Kinopoisk, though they now keep open the possibility that the project could find a wider venue.
In addition to the main feature, the creators plan to publish a standalone comic that delves into the events of Difficult Childhood. This companion piece will give fans a deeper look at Grom Jr.’s upbringing and help build anticipation for the prequel. The producers also acknowledge the potential for international distribution. They emphasize that the film is meant to live beyond a single day at the box office and that there is a substantial Russian-speaking audience outside Russia who values access to Russian culture. When the film is ready and distribution opportunities arise, they expect it to be shared with a global audience.