Bad Bunny to Star in Residente’s Film “Porto Rico”: A Historical Drama About Puerto Rico’s Struggle Heads to the Big Screen
Puerto Rican musician and activist Residente (René Pérez Joglar) is preparing to make his feature-length directorial debut. His first film, “Porto Rico, ” will be a large-scale historical drama focused on the complex and turbulent past of Puerto Rico. The central role in the project will be played by Bad Bunny — marking his first leading role in a feature film.
The upcoming film is described as an epic historical drama with western elements, centered on 19th-century events linked to Puerto Rico’s independence movement. At the heart of the story is a character inspired by the real historical figure José Maldonado Román, better known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle), who opposed colonial rule. The project is positioned as an artistic reinterpretation of historical events grounded in documented facts.
Residente co-wrote the screenplay with Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris Jr., known for his work on “Birdman.” Additional weight is added to the project by the involvement of director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who serves as executive producer and is also an Academy Award winner.
Alongside Bad Bunny, the cast includes internationally acclaimed actors Javier Bardem, Edward Norton, and Viggo Mortensen, underscoring the global scale and ambitions of the production.
For Bad Bunny — one of the most commercially successful artists of recent years and a multiple Grammy Award winner — “Porto Rico” will mark his first major leading role in cinema. Although he has previously appeared in film and television projects, this will be his first full-fledged performance as a leading actor.
Residente, widely known not only as a musician but also for socially and politically engaged projects addressing identity, colonial legacy, and Latin American cultural memory, views “Porto Rico” as a personal and creative step toward exploring his homeland’s history through the language of cinema.
An official production start date and release schedule have not yet been announced. However, the project is already generating significant attention within the international film industry. With its strong historical foundation, star-studded cast, and Residente’s creative vision, “Porto Rico” is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Latin American film projects in the coming years.
The film brings together several powerful elements: Residente’s directorial debut, Bad Bunny’s first leading role, an international ensemble cast, and a story rooted in key chapters of Puerto Rican history — positioning it not only as a major premiere but as a potentially significant cultural event.
