Dark Horse, an English-language biopic meant to burnish Jair Bolsonaro’s legacy, has embroiled his son Flavio in a major financing scandal after leaked audio suggested he sought R$134m from banker Daniel Vorcaro. Investigators allege at least R$61m was routed through intermediaries amid a probe into a suspected R$12bn fraud at Banco Master. Post-revelation polling shows Flavio trailing Lula, and the fallout risks splitting Brazil’s right ahead of October’s election.
Biopic Financing Scandal Threatens Bolsonaro’s Political Bid and Splits Brazil’s Right
Flavio Bolsonaro had been running neck and neck with Lula da Silva, the incumbent president, until the Dark Horse film scandal emerged - Hedeson Alves/EPA/Shutterstock
The English-language biopic Dark Horse — intended to burnish Jair Bolsonaro’s legacy and bolster his son Flavio’s presidential run — has become the center of a major finance scandal. Leaked audio and an ongoing probe into the collapse of Banco Master have implicated Flavio Bolsonaro in efforts to secure tens of millions of reais from banker Daniel Vorcaro, who is under investigation in a suspected multi-billion-real fraud.
The film Dark Horse deals with Jair Bolsonaro’s rise to power in 2018, but its financing could stop his son Flavio following in his footsteps - Andre Coelho/Bloomberg
Background
Dark Horse, which casts Jim Caviezel (known for The Passion of the Christ) as Jair Bolsonaro, was positioned as a cultural and political vehicle to rally right-wing voters ahead of October’s presidential election. The production has attracted high-profile political interest in the United States, with Steve Bannon reportedly intending to promote the film.
The case of Daniel Vorcaro has raised new concerns about influence and favouritism in Brazil
The Leak and the Financial Trail
Leaked audio published by Intercept Brasil appears to capture Flavio Bolsonaro asking banker Daniel Vorcaro for R$134m (roughly £19.4m) to finance the film. Investigators allege that at least R$61m (about £8.9m) was routed through intermediaries in Brazil and Texas between February and May of last year. Vorcaro was the head of Banco Master, which collapsed amid accusations of an alleged R$12bn (≈£1.7bn) fraud; he denies wrongdoing.
Jim Caviezel stars as Jair Bolsonaro in the film, for which Flavio Bolsonaro reportedly requested almost £20m in funding
“Even though you gave us freedom to ask you, I feel embarrassed having to keep asking,” the recording dated Sept. 8 appears to show Flavio saying. “But this is a decisive moment for the film. There are many overdue instalments, everyone is tense, and I’m worried about the opposite effect from what we dreamed for the movie.”
The Bolsonaros deny any illegal conduct and the production company says no money reached the film; however, public documents tracing the disputed funds have not been produced.
Lula da Silva has seized on the Bolsonaro clan reaching out to Donald Trump to remind Brazilians about the heavy tariffs the US president imposed on their country - Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images
Political Fallout
Federal authorities have opened inquiries into Flavio Bolsonaro’s links with Vorcaro at a politically sensitive moment in Brazil, where corruption and institutional distrust remain potent voter concerns. The first poll after the revelations, by AtlasIntel, showed Flavio trailing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 41.8% to 48.9%, reversing earlier neck-and-neck numbers.
Jair Bolsonaro had surgery last year on a bowel obstruction that was reportedly caused by the 2018 attempted assassination in which he was stabbed - X account of Jair Bolsonaro/AFP via Getty Images
The scandal risks weakening right-wing unity and creating openings for other conservative figures such as Romeu Zema (Partido Novo) and Ronaldo Caiado (Social Democratic Party), who have already pressed attacks on Flavio.
In an effort to change the narrative, Flavio sacked his campaign manager and travelled to Washington, where he sought support from Donald Trump — including urging the designation of major Brazilian drug cartels as terrorist organisations. The visit had mixed political effects: it burnished his law-and-order credentials for some voters but also coincided with U.S. tariffs that President Lula seized on to accuse Washington of undermining Brazil’s sovereignty.
What Comes Next
As investigators probe financial trails and leaked audio continues to circulate, the episode could significantly affect the Bolsonaro brand in the run-up to October’s vote. Analysts caution that corruption allegations do not always determine election outcomes, but they can reshape coalitions and open space for rivals.
With high stakes for Brazil’s political balance and multiple inquiries underway, the fate of the film and the Bolsonaro campaign remain uncertain — and the controversy is likely to dominate headlines in the coming weeks.
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