Bad Bunny will star in the first film directed by Residente

René Pérez Joglar, known as Residente, will make his directorial debut with PORTO RICO, an epic Caribbean western that combines historical drama with a critical review of Puerto Rico’s national narrative. The project marks a new chapter in the career of the artist, winner of 34 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, whose work has been permeated by an analysis of identity, memory and power structures in Latin America.

The film will star Bad Bunny (Benito Martínez Ocasio), who will take on his first leading role in cinema after appearances in international productions such as Bullet Train. The cast is rounded out by Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton and Javier Bardem, consolidating an internationally renowned cast.

PORTO RICO was co-written by Pérez Joglar alongside Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris, recognised for Birdman. The script is inspired by real events and presents a large-scale historical narrative with a direct and emotional approach, focusing on the conflicts that have defined the history of Puerto Rico.

According to the director himself: ‘I have dreamed of making a film about my country since I was a child. The true history of Puerto Rico has always been surrounded by controversy. This film is a reaffirmation of who we are, told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.’

Production is handled by Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât through 1868 Studios, a company created in partnership with Sony Music Latin-Iberia and Sony Music Vision, dedicated to the development and distribution of content focused on cultural narratives.

Edward Norton and Bill Migliore are producing alongside Michael Bederman for Class 5 Films. The project is backed by Live Nation Studios and various strategic partners. Multiple Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu is serving as executive producer, alongside Scott Budnick (1Community) and other collaborators linked to the cultural and social sphere. UTA Independent Film Group will handle international sales.

Norton has linked the film to a tradition of historical dramas that combine narrative intensity and critical revision of the past, citing references such as The Godfather and Gangs of New York. Along these lines, PORTO RICO seeks to insert itself into the debate on how historical narratives are constructed and disseminated within the American and Caribbean context.

The project represents the expansion of Pérez Joglar’s creative work into cinema, maintaining the thematic line that has characterised his musical career. With a global cast and a solid production structure, the film is positioned as one of the most relevant Latin American film developments currently underway, with international ambition and a defined historical focus.