A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Thursday ordered the opening of an investigation into the financing of a film about former President Jair Bolsonaro by a banker at the heart of a vast financial scandal, a court source told AFP.
Suspicions about the financing of this Hollywood production entitled “Dark Horse”, with American actor Jim Caviezel in the lead role, are poisoning the right in the run-up to the October presidential election.
They have weakened Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of the former head of state (2019-2022), who will be the main opponent of outgoing left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Judge André Mendonça, in charge of the case, gave the green light to the Federal Police to investigate the financing of the feature film, the source said.
In May, the investigative site Intercept Brasil revealed, with supporting audio recording, that this 45-year-old senator had asked for money to finance this film from Daniel Vorcaro, boss of the Banco Master bank, at the heart of a resounding financial scandal.
Flavio Bolsonaro had previously assured that he had no relationship with the banker. He finally had to admit to having asked for funds for the film, but denied any wrongdoing.
According to Intercept Brasil, Mr. Vorcaro agreed to contribute $24 million but paid a little less than half.
The Banco Master scandal began in November 2025 when this bank was liquidated for proving insolvent, having accumulated more than six billion euros in debt.
The investigation then focused on suspicious links between the financier, detained since March, and political and judicial circles.
The scandal also affects the left.
In June, Senator Jaques Wagner, a key man in the Lula camp, was targeted by police searches, who suspected him of having obtained “undue economic advantages” to defend the interests of this bank in Parliament in exchange.
He maintains his innocence but had to leave his post as leader of the government bloc in the upper house at the end of June.
