Wagner Moura on The Secret Agent and Confronting Authoritarianism

Actor Wagner Moura returns to Brazilian cinema with a powerful new film. The project is Brazil’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards. It is titled The Secret Agent.

The political drama reflects on life under dictatorship. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho created it as a response to Brazil’s recent far-right government. The film arrives as former President Jair Bolsonaro faces prison.

Film Serves as Direct Response to Bolsonaro Era

Moura describes the Bolsonaro years as destructive for Brazilian artists. He says the government openly attacked free press and universities. This hostile environment was the genesis for The Secret Agent.

Moura’s own directorial debut, Marighella, was censored by the Bolsonaro administration. Funding for distribution was withheld for years. This personal experience deeply informed his latest role.

The new film explores the suffocating pressure of authoritarian rule. Moura plays an ordinary man trying to maintain his values. He is surrounded by a complicit civilian elite.

Authoritarian Playbook Shows Global Pattern

Moura sees undeniable parallels with contemporary American politics. He notes a familiar authoritarian playbook is being used. This includes attacking institutions like the press and artists.

According to The Hollywood Reporter interview, Moura points to the January 6th insurrection. He compares it directly to Brazil’s own capital invasion on January 8, 2023. The responses from each country’s institutions, however, differed greatly.

Brazil recently sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for his coup attempt. Moura believes Brazil’s history with dictatorship led to this swift justice. He says Americans sometimes take democracy for granted.

The film serves as a stark warning from a nation that knows dictatorship. The Secret Agent argues that vigilance is the price of liberty. Its message resonates far beyond Brazil’s borders.

Thought you’d like to know

What is The Secret Agent about?

The film is a political drama set during a dictatorship. It follows an ordinary man trying to stick to his values. He faces immense pressure from a complicit society.

Who stars in and directed the film?

Wagner Moura, famous for Netflix’s Narcos, stars in the lead role. Acclaimed Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho directed the project. This is Moura’s first Portuguese-language acting role in a decade.

Why is this film significant for Brazil?

It is Brazil’s official submission for the 2026 Oscars. The film is a direct artistic response to the recent Bolsonaro government. It explores themes of memory and authoritarianism.

When will The Secret Agent be released in the US?

Neon will release the film in the United States. It opens in New York on November 26. Los Angeles audiences can see it starting December 5.

How does the film connect to current US politics?

Moura draws parallels between the film’s themes and Trump’s rhetoric. He notes similar attacks on press and institutions. The film acts as a warning from a country with dictatorship experience.