Puerto Rican pop singer Bad Bunny has landed his first leading acting role in the historical drama “Porto Rico,” which also stars Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton and Javier Bardem.
The movie is the directorial debut of Puerto Rican artist René “Residente” Pérez Joglar and is set to bring together international talent and Puerto Rican creatives such as Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Edward Norton as producers.
Described as an “epic Caribbean western and historical drama,” the film tells the unique history of the island, drawing inspiration from true events and focusing on the island’s history and cultural identity.
The film is expected to highlight the local politics and social movements that deeply impacted the country, aiming to bring global attention to the nation.
Right now, the film is still in preproduction. Details about when the film will be shot or released have not been announced.
“This film is a reaffirmation of who we are — told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves,” Mr. Pérez Joglar said in a statement to Deadline.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has worked with Mr. Pérez Joglar before on the latter’s single “Bellacoso.” The track was released during the 2019 protests in Puerto Rico that led to the resignation of then-Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
The song was said to reflect the people and their movement during that time in the country’s history and cemented Mr. Ocasio as a social and cultural influencer.
Mr. Ocasio has previously appeared in supporting roles in films such as “Bullet Train” and the Television series “Narcos: Mexico.”
Bad Bunny has won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, including Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
He recently drew both praise and criticism for his Super Bowl halftime show, which was one of the most-watched halftime performances in history. The non-English speaking performance drew criticism from conservatives.
On Piers Morgan Uncensored, conservative commentator Meghan Kelly said the half-time show shouldn’t “be anything other than good old‑fashioned American apple pie.”
On the other hand, many fans cheered its celebration of Puerto Rican culture, Spanish language music and the connection between North and South American countries. In their view, it highlighted the global reach of Spanish-language entertainment and culture.
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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