Bad Bunny Joins Edward Norton and Javier Bardem in First Lead Film Role for ‘Porto Rico’
Bad Bunny is stepping into a major new chapter of his career with his first lead role in a feature film, “Porto Rico.” The historical drama, directed by Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper René Pérez Joglar, better known as Residente, marks Pérez Joglar’s feature debut. The movie also stars Edward Norton, Javier Bardem, and Viggo Mortensen, and is being described as an “epic Caribbean western” inspired by the true story of Puerto Rico’s origins.
Pérez Joglar co-wrote the film with Alexander Dinelaris, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Birdman and The Revenant, while Alejandro González Iñárritu serves as executive producer. Speaking about the project, Pérez Joglar told the press, “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. This film is a reaffirmation of who we are — told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”
The film is being produced by Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât under 1868 Studios, a joint venture between Pérez Joglar, Sony Music Latin-Iberia, and Sony Music Vision aimed at telling culturally driven stories. Norton and Bill Migliore, with Michael Bederman, are producing for Class 5 Films, the company behind titles like The Painted Veil, Motherless Brooklyn, and By the People: The Election of Barack Obama.
Speaking about the project, 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. Everybody knows what a poet of language and rhythm René is. Now they’re going to see what a visual visionary he is as well. And bringing him and Bad Bunny together to tell the true story of Puerto Rico’s roots is going to be like a flame finding the stick of dynamite that’s been waiting for it.”
“Porto Rico” is backed by Live Nation Studios, Class 5 Films, and several strategic partners including the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, and Noah Assad, with UTA Independent Film Group handling sales.
For Bad Bunny, this film comes after a busy month in February 2026. He headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, a performance that reached an average of 128.2 million viewers, celebrating Puerto Rican culture. Earlier in the month, he made history at the Grammys as the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
This project marks a major step for Bad Bunny as he transitions from music and supporting film roles, including Bullet Train with Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, into starring roles in major cinema.
It’s exciting to see Bad Bunny lead such a powerful story about Puerto Rico. With a cast like this and Residente at the helm, “Porto Rico” is shaping up to be a landmark film. Are you looking forward to seeing Bad Bunny in his first leading role? Share your thoughts in the comments.
