Portuguese comedian and radio host Nuno Markl begins shooting his debut film as a director this Saturday, less than a year after suffering two strokes.
The movie, titled "O Homem Que Mordeu o Cão: O Filme" ("The Man Who Bit the Dog: The Movie"), is based on stories from the radio segment of the same name that Markl has hosted for almost 30 years. He also wrote the screenplay and is producing the film.
Markl suffered two strokes in November 2025. The screenplay was rewritten afterwards to include some of the experiences and emotions he went through in the months that followed.
Cast of nearly 40 actors
The final cast has now been locked in, bringing together close to 40 actors, although not all of them work professionally as performers. Those confirmed include Rui Melo, Cândido Costa, João Pedro Vaz, Teresa Tavares, Isabel Abreu, Inês Aires Pereira, Cláudia Pascoal, David Fonseca, Carolina Amaral, Afonso Pimentel, Gonçalo Waddington, Anabela Moreira, Gabriela Barros, Mafalda Santos, Gaya de Medeiros, Salvador Martinha, Kiko is Hot, Daniela Melchior, Eduardo Madeira, Carla Vasconcelos, José Mata, Victoria Guerra, Bruno Nogueira, Adriano Carvalho, Jéssica Athayde, Diogo Amaral, Ana Bustorff, Gilmário Vemba, Lucas Dutra, Mariana Pacheco, Mafalda Creative, Pedro Ferreira, José Raposo, Paula Só, Rui Mendes, Pedro Ribeiro, Vera Fernandes and Vasco Palmeirim, alongside Markl himself.
Markl said there could also be one or two surprises still to come.
Two strokes and recovery
A stroke, known in Portuguese as an AVC, happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, and can affect movement, speech and memory depending on its severity. Markl suffered two of them in November 2025, and producers say his experience in the months since fed directly into changes made to the film's script.
Filming on "O Homem Que Mordeu o Cão: O Filme" is due to begin this Saturday.
