Jim Caviezel (57), the actor who became world-famous in 2004 for his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, is set to inhabit the role of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro (70) in a new biopic. According to The Guardian, the film, titled Dark Horse, is not being pitched as a critical reckoning but rather as a “heroic” portrait of the controversial right-wing extremist.
The film lands at a volatile moment: since November, Bolsonaro has been imprisoned in Brasilia. In September 2025, he was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for leading a criminal conspiracy aimed at blocking the return to power of his leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and “destroying” Brazil’s democracy (TheColu.mn reported).
Behind the project lies a tight network of political allies. The screenplay is written by Mário Frias, who served as culture secretary under Bolsonaro. The director is Cyrus Nowrasteh. It has now emerged that shooting began three months ago under strict secrecy in Brazil. The production is expected to wrap in 2026 in Mexico and the United States.
Bolsonaro’s son confirms film project
Bolsonaro’s son Carlos confirmed the existence of the film on X and shared a photo of himself and Caviezel in costume. “I know that your legacy will continue to be admired by good people and envied by those who seek destruction,” he wrote with a dramatic flair, ending the post with the slogan: “God, Jesus and Freedom!”
Jim Caviezel, thank you for everything. I know your legacy will continue to be admired by good people and envied by those who seek destruction yet the message you imprint with every step leaves its mark on the world. For me, one of the greatest gifts Ive received was the pic.twitter.com/zRhx9viuFo
Carlos Bolsonaro (@CarlosBolsonaro) December 7, 2025
According to early leaks, the film focuses on Bolsonaro’s military past and his 2018 campaign. That year marked his rise to power, but it was also characterized by massive protests against his rhetoric. He caused shock with remarks that indigenous peoples were “becoming more human beings exactly like us.” He also said he would rather see his son die in a car crash than be gay. During his time in office, he repeatedly drew attention with anti-queer projects and statements. For instance, during the COVID-19 crisis he spoke out against masks, arguing that they were only for “queers.”
Jim Caviezel as the figurehead of queer-hostile Hollywood
The choice of Jim Caviezel for the lead role fits the project’s political slant. The actor has in recent years positioned himself as a standard-bearer for Christian-conservative Hollywood and the American right, even making anti-queer remarks. He stated that the acceptance of queer people leads to “moral decay,” and he opposed publicly displaying the rainbow flag. He also broadly accused queer people of grooming children.
He drew further attention in 2023 with the surprise hit Sound of Freedom, a film about child trafficking, which critics argued bore affinities to QAnon conspiracy theories. Caviezel subsequently appeared more often on right-wing media, including on the podcast of Trump adviser Steve Bannon. He publicly backed Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign and even called him “the new Moses.”
Career-wise, Caviezel recently faced a setback: for the planned sequel to The Passion of the Christ, titled Resurrection, he was replaced, reportedly because director Mel Gibson could not find a suitable technical way to de-age the actor digitally. (spot/dk)
