René Pérez Joglar, the Puerto Rican rapper also known as Residente, will make his feature directorial debut with historical epic Porto Rico, which is set to star Bad Bunny (aka Benito Martínez Ocasio).
Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton and Javier Bardem are also set for the project that is described as “an epic Caribbean western and historical drama” that will explore Puerto Rico’s origins. Pérez Joglar co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar-winning Birdman screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris.
“I have dreamed of making a film about my country since I was a child. Puerto Rico’s true history has always been surrounded by controversy,” said Pérez Joglar in a statement. “This film is a reaffirmation of who we are—told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”
Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât will produce for 1868 Studios, a partnership between Joglar and Sony Music that focuses on bringing Latin stories to global audiences. Norton, Bill Migliore and Michael Bederman will produce for Class 5 Films (The Painted Veil, Motherless Brooklyn). The film will be backed by Live Nation Studios and Class 5 Films.
Norton said, “This film sits in a tradition of films we deeply love, from The Godfather to Gangs of New York, that both thrill us with visceral drama and iconic characters and eras while also forcing us to face up to the shadow story under the American narrative of idealism.”
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu will executive produce, along with Scott Budnick under his 1Community banner. Mike Novogratz, Sukey Novogratz, José E. Feliciano, Kwanza Jones, Henry R. Muñoz III, and Noah Assad will also executive produce.
Pérez Joglar, repped by Douat, starred in the 2024 Sundance Grand Jury prize winner In the Summers and this year’s Sundance offering Frank & Louis. Martínez Ocasio’s onscreen credits include Happy Gilmore 2, Caught Stealing and Bullet Train; he is repped by UTA and Assad. Mortensen is represented by UTA and Goodman Genow. Norton is repped by UTA and Sloane Offer. Bardem is represented by WME and Goodman Genow.
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