RESIDENTE & BAD BUNNY TEAM UP FOR HISTORICAL FILM ABOUT PUERTO RICO

RESIDENTE & BAD BUNNY TEAM UP FOR HISTORICAL FILM ABOUT PUERTO RICO Puerto Rican music icons Residente (René Pérez Joglar) and Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) are collaborating on an ambitious historical drama film that will chronicle the complex story of their homeland. The movie titled PORTO RICO marks a major expansion for both artists into cinema, with Residente making his feature directorial debut and Bad Bunny taking on his first leading film role. Director: Residente, the Grammy-winning rapper, songwriter and cultural figure, is directing PORTO RICO, his first feature film. Lead Actor: Bad Bunny, the globally successful singer-rapper, will star in the film’s main role his first time as a lead actor after supporting parts in movies like Happy Gilmore 2 and Caught Stealing. Genre & Scope: The film is described as an “epic Caribbean Western and historical drama” inspired by real events from Puerto Rico’s history. Story Focus: It aims to explore Puerto Rico’s roots and heritage, reflecting on the island’s controversial and rich past with nuance and cultural depth.
Script: Residente co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar-winning scribe Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman). In addition to Bad Bunny, the cast features several high-profile actors:
Viggo Mortensen acclaimed for roles in The Lord of the Rings and Eastern Promises. Javier Bardem Oscar-winning actor known for films like No Country for Old Men. Edward Norton award-winning star of American History X and Birdman who is also producing.
Behind the scenes, the film has heavyweight backing, including Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu serving as an executive producer and support from Live Nation Entertainment.
Residente described PORTO RICO as a lifelong dream project, saying he has “dreamed of making a film about my country since I was a child” and wants to tell Puerto Rico’s true history with honesty and intensity. Norton, speaking about the film’s potential, compared its ambition to classic historical dramas, saying it fits into a tradition of films that “thrill us with visceral drama and iconic characters” while also confronting deeper cultural narratives.
This project represents a major moment for Puerto Rican storytelling in global cinema. It brings together two of the island’s most influential cultural figures each with a strong artistic voice and international audiences to present a narrative rooted in heritage, identity and historical perspective.
Bad Bunny’s casting in the lead role expands his artistic reach following major achievements in music including recent Grammy success and a high-profile Super Bowl halftime performance that celebrated Puerto Rican culture. At this stage, filming and release dates have not been announced. The project is still in pre-production, with the creative team assembling the final pieces before cameras roll.