Puerto Rican icon Residente is stepping behind the camera for his feature directorial debut — and he’s bringing serious star power with him.

The film, Porto Rico, is described as an epic Caribbean western and historical drama, led by Bad Bunny in his first-ever leading movie role. The cast also includes Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, and Javier Bardem, with Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu serving as executive producer.

Co-written by Residente and Oscar-winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman), the project was originally developed as a historical drama inspired by Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román — known as Águila Blanca — who fought colonial rule in the late 19th century. While final plot details remain under wraps, the film promises a visceral and lyrical take on Puerto Rico’s contested history.

Residente called the film a lifelong dream, saying it’s “a reaffirmation of who we are — told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”

The title Porto Rico itself carries weight. It references the island’s anglicized name under U.S. rule from 1900 to 1932 — a symbolic nod to colonial history and identity struggles that still resonate today.

The announcement comes on the heels of Bad Bunny’s history-making Super Bowl halftime show, which spotlighted Puerto Rican culture to over 128 million viewers and sparked a surge in tourism interest to the island.

If the Super Bowl was a cultural statement, Porto Rico looks ready to be a cinematic one.