What a surprising, out-of-left-field project that’s just been announced.
Grammy Award-winning rapper René “Residente” Pérez Joglar, 47, is making his feature directorial debut — a love letter to his native Puerto Rico — with none other than Bad Bunny set to star in the lead role.
The film, titled “Porto Rico,” is described as an epic Caribbean western and historical drama, featuring a talented supporting cast: Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, and Javier Bardem. Alejandro G. Iñárritu is also on board as executive producer.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (“Birdman”) co-wrote the screenplay with Residente, which chronicles the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román. Set in Puerto Rico during the late 19th century, the story follows Maldonado Román as he leads a group of former convicts in a fight against colonial rule, striving to assert Puerto Rico’s national identity.
Bardem, who hails from Spain, will be joined by Norton and Mortensen in roles described as “connected to their respective home countries,” sources say. Notably, both Norton and Mortensen — the latter having lived in Argentina for many years — are fluent in Spanish.
The film reportedly draws inspiration from “The Godfather” and “Gangs of New York.”
For Bad Bunny, a Grammy-winning musician fresh off his widely covered Super Bowl halftime performance, this will mark his first leading role in a feature film. His foray into acting began with small parts in “F9” and “Bullet Train,” followed by supporting roles in “Happy Gilmore 2” and “Caught Stealing.”