Jim Caviezel Cast as Jair Bolsonaro in Upcoming Biopic

If you’re wondering what Jim Caviezel will do next, after having been brushed off Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ,’ we now have our answer, and it’s a real doozy.

Caviezel will star as Jair Bolsonaro, former president of Brazil and currently imprisoned, in the upcoming biopic “Dark Horse.” In September 2025, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for plotting a coup, although he and his supporters firmly deny the allegations and have compared his treatment to the “lawfare” faced by Donald Trump before he was re-elected.

The film, which started shooting three months ago, was shot in English and is described as being a “heroic” portrait of Bolsonaro. The ensemble includes Lynn Collins (“John Carter”), Esai Morales (“Mission: Impossible 8”), as well as Felipe Folgosi as a federal police officer. A first look image of Caviezel as Bolsonaro can be seen above.

Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, the film was written by Mário Frias, who served as Secretary of Culture under the Bolsonaro government. It was all shot in secret, with producers mobilizing a task force to prevent leaks, confiscating cell phones, and maintaining strict security control.

Caviezel spent about three months in Brazil to shoot scenes set in different regions before returning to the United States. Filming will now move to Mexico and later back to Hollywood, where the feature will complete production sometime in 2026.

Caviezel has not been shy in his support for the currently incarcerated Bolsonaro, whom he believes was a victim of Brazil’s “deep state.” The actor is said to have motivated the film crew by shouting, “Let’s help him be released! The whole world will see you!”

Production faced initial resistance in Brazil but eventually gained international support, including from Donald Trump, who, according to the distributor, believes the film will help Bolsonaro’s fight for freedom.

I mean, they could have technically cast a Brazilian-born actor to play Bolsonaro, but obviously, Caviezel taking on the role is going to get more headlines. Not that any Hollywood studio would even consider touching this project. Caviezel has become political kryptonite in Tinseltown — yet he somehow managed to star in the surprise hit of the decade, “Sound of Freedom,” which became an unexpected success in the summer of 2023. The film was independently financed and rolled into theaters via crowdfunding-backed, faith-based distributor Angel Studios.

Otherwise, Caviezel’s most well-known work came in the late ‘90s and early aughts, starring in such films as “The Thin Red Line,” “Frequency,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and “The Passion of the Christ.” He was supposed to return for the “Passion” sequel, but Mel Gibson couldn’t find a proper way to de-age him, so the role was recast.

“Dark Horse” is eyeing global distribution but does not yet have a release date locked in.