EXCLUSIVE: Cameras are officially rolling in the Dominican Republic on René “Residente” Pérez Joglar’s feature film screenwriting and directing debut, Porto Rico. As previously announced, the cast is led by Benito “Bad Bunny” Martínez Ocasio, who stars alongside Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton. Javier Bardem, who was earlier announced as part of the cast, has exited the project.

There are 11 new additions to the cast as production is underway: Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Half Man), Rhenzy Feliz (The Penguin, How to Rob a Bank), Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds), Latin music icon Rubén Blades (Fear the Walking Dead), Alberto Guerra (M.I.A., Narcos: Mexico), Marcel Ruiz (One Day at a Time, The Body), Arian Cartaya (It: Welcome to Derry), Óscar Jaenada (The Losers), Carmen Machi (Broken Embraces), and Luis Tosar (Miami Vice).

From a screenplay by Alexander Dinelaris and Residente, Porto Rico is an epic Caribbean western and historical drama inspired by true events. The film blends historical scope with a visceral, lyrical narrative exploring Puerto Rico’s origins.

As Deadline announced in 2023, when the film was in development, the screenplay is based on the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle), set in the late 19th century. Maldonado Román fought against colonialism by leading a gang of ex-convicts to vindicate Puerto Rico as it sought its identity as a country.

It will also cover the 1898 U.S.A. takeover of Puerto Rico from Spain, which saw the renaming of the island as Porto Rico.

Back in February, we reported that American actors Norton and Mortensen, both of whom are fluent in Spanish, are playing roles connected to their country of origin. And while the production lost a Spaniard in Bardem, three new Spanish natives are part of the cast: Jaenada, Machi and Tosar. Further details regarding who the new actors will play are under wraps.

Behind the camera, the creative team features major award winners and nominees: cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, production designer David Crank, and costume designer Anna Terrazas.

Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât produce Porto Rico for 1868 Studios alongside Norton, Bill Migliore, and Michael Bederman for Class 5 Films, and Kwanza Jones produces for Supercharged Studios. The film is backed by Live Nation Studios, Class 5 Films, and strategic partners including the José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones Initiative, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, Henry R. Muñoz III, Ric Elias, and Noah Assad. Additional strategic partners include HarbourView Equity Media Group, Talipot Studio, and Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu executive produces alongside Michael Rapino, Ryan Kroft, Robin Rapino, Stella Bulochnikov, Scott Budnick, Jones, Feliciano, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, Assad, Muñoz III, Elias, Sherrese Clarke, Niija Kuykendall, Regina Solórzano, and Lakshmi Iyengar. UTA Independent Film Group is handling sales.

Gadd is repped by UTA, Individual Artist Management, Markham, Froggart & Irwin, and Granderson Des Rochers. Feliz is repped by Neon Kite, CAA, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman. Cruz Córdova is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content, and Peikoff Mahan Law Office. Brühl is repped by CAA in the US, United Agents in the UK, and Players in Germany. Blades is repped by WME. Guerra is repped by UTA and Artists First. Ruiz is repped by Range Media Partners and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Cartaya is repped by Reel Talent Management and Brevard Talent Group. Jaenada is repped by Paradigm and Artists First. Tosar is repped by Kuranda Management.

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