The man who stole Portugal

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A true story!

We just received news about a fascinating—and true—story: a man actually stole Portugal! It’s based on the real events behind one of history’s largest frauds.

Who was The man who stole Portugal?

James Nelson Joyce (known for This City is Ours and A Thousand Blows) plays Alves Reis, a determined and resourceful man who overcomes obstacles to succeed. Despite facing rejection and being underestimated, Reis is driven to provide a better life for his wife, Maria (Emily Fairn, known for House of Guinness and The Responder), and their family. Through clever schemes and hard work, he rises from humble beginnings, eventually reaching the highest levels of Portugal’s banking system – all based on a daring deception that would become one of history’s most remarkable scams.

The cast and crew…

James Nelson Joyce plays the main character, a man who nearly purchased the National Bank of Portugal using its own funds. He’s joined by Emily Fairn, Dominic Cooper, and Richard E. Grant (known from Saltburn and Can You Ever Forgive Me). Filming will take place in the UK, Portugal, and South Africa through July. The cast also features Joel Fry (Bank of Dave, Our Flag Means Death) as Jose, Herbert Nordrum (The Worst Person in the World, The Royal Hotel) as Karel, Kim Bodnia (F1, Killing Eve) as Adolf, Nia Towle as Fie (Rings of Power, Persuasion), Richard E. Grant as Sir William, and Dominic West (The Crown, The Wire) as Carlos. BAFTA-nominated director Thomas Napper (Jawbone, Widow Clicquot) helms the project, based on a script by Richard Galazka, which is inspired by the true crime book of the same name by Murray Teigh Bloom.

Filming for the project will take place in the UK, Portugal, and South Africa, reflecting the story’s journey from the vibrant and politically charged atmosphere of 1920s Lisbon to colonial Angola and the high-end printing companies of London. The film, titled ‘The Man Who Stole Portugal,’ is currently slated for release in 2027.

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2026-05-09 14:23