Production has begun on Porto Rico, the feature film debut of Puerto Rican musician René "Residente" Pérez Joglar. Cameras started rolling in the Dominican Republic, with Benito "Bad Bunny" Martínez Ocasio leading the cast in his first starring film role.
The film is an epic Caribbean western and historical drama inspired by true events. Written by Residente and Alexander Dinelaris, the screenplay centers on José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle), a Puerto Rican revolutionary operating in the late 19th century. The story encompasses the 1898 American takeover of Puerto Rico from Spain.
Eleven new cast members join the previously announced leads. Richard Gadd, Rhenzy Feliz, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Daniel Brühl, Rubén Blades, Alberto Guerra, Marcel Ruiz, Arian Cartaya, Óscar Jaenada, Carmen Machi, and Luis Tosar round out an ensemble that already includes Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton. Javier Bardem, who was earlier announced as part of the cast, has exited the project.
Anthony Dod Mantle is the cinematographer. David Crank serves as production designer, Anna Terrazas as costume designer. Alejandro G. Iñárritu is executive producer. The project is produced by 1868 Studios, Class 5 Films, and Supercharged Studios, with backing from Live Nation Studios.
Porto Rico arrives as one of the most anticipated directorial debuts in recent memory. The question is whether Residente's instinct for political narrative translates from studio albums to epic film.