Jim Caviezel’s Dark Horse Bolsonaro film became entangled in Brazil’s Banco Master scandal after Senator Flávio Bolsonaro confirmed he sought funding from jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, said Wednesday that he had arranged private sponsorship for the biopic but denied offering benefits in return or linking the deal to the Federal Police probe into Vorcaro.
The Intercept Brasil reported that Vorcaro promised $24 million for the film and that about half had already been paid, citing documents, audio and messages it said it had reviewed. The Guardian reported that leaked messages showed Flávio asking Vorcaro for funding tied to the production.
GOUP Entertainment, the production house behind “Dark Horse,” said the film had more than 10 investors but had not received “a single cent” from Vorcaro or his companies.
“Dark Horse” stars American actor Jim Caviezel as Jair Bolsonaro and is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh. Deadline has described the project as a political thriller about “power, media and faith under fire.”
The film is scheduled for release in September, one month before Brazil’s presidential election. Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remain close in recent polls, while the Vorcaro scandal has drawn new scrutiny to the challenge.
