In March 2024, in an interview with this newspaper, singer Residente already mentioned that he was seeking funding for a "very big" and "badass" film project about the history of Puerto Rico. Two years later, the film that René Pérez aspired to is now a reality, with the main role being played by Bad Bunny and supported by a trio of acting stars including Javier Bardem, Viggo Mortensen, and Edward Norton.
In René Pérez's project, titled Porto Rico, a mix of epic Caribbean western and historical drama, another heavyweight of Latin cinema who has found a place in Hollywood is also involved: Alejandro González Iñárritu. The Mexican will be the executive producer of this directorial debut of Residente, with executive producers Scott Budnick, Mike Novogratz, José E. Feliciano, Kwanza Jones, Henry Muñoz, and Noah Assad. Residente and Erick Douât produce through 1868 Studios, while Edward Norton, Bill Migliore, and Michael Bederman do so through Class 5 Films.
The announcement of this feature film comes just days after Bad Bunny, who had already ventured into acting with small roles in the Narcos series and films like Bullet Train or Happy Gilmore 2, but debuts as a lead actor, sparked a global debate with his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. The Puerto Rican singer delivered a performance loaded with political content and Latin culture advocacy at a time when the U.S. immigration policy under Donald Trump has hardened during his second term. In fact, the U.S. President himself criticized the singer on social media.
The political advocacy for their territory's independence, away from U.S. control, has been a driving force in the careers of both Bad Bunny and Residente, first as Calle 13's leader and later in their solo careers. Both participated in the 2019 protests that led to the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló due to the publication of homophobic and misogynistic messages. After the resignation, they released the song Bellacoso on YouTube to celebrate their victory.
Residente's first film experience, co-written with the Oscar-winning writer for Birdman, Alexander Dinelaris, will follow the same political premise in favor of their territory. The film is described as "combining a large-scale historical narrative with a visceral and lyrical approach, in a powerful story inspired by real events" and as "the realization of a lifelong dream" for the singer. The choice of actors also reflects this path. Javier Bardem and Edward Norton are two actors who have firmly positioned themselves in conflicts like Gaza despite the industry's silence on political causes.
In statements relayed by his agency, Residente expressed that he had dreamed of making a film about his country "since he was a child." "The true story 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," emphasized the rapper who, along with Edgar Barrera, holds the record for the most Latin Grammy wins in history, with 29.
Edward Norton, as an actor and producer of Porto Rico, places Residente's film in the tradition of movies like The Godfather or Gangs of New York for being "a visceral drama" with "iconic characters and eras" that forces us to "confront the shadow history underlying the American narrative of idealism."