After his dynamic Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny has announced an exciting career development as he steps into a leading role for an upcoming film.
The Puerto Rican artist, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to headline the new movie Porto Rico, a grand historical drama capturing the essence of his homeland.
This film, directed by first-time filmmaker René Pérez Joglar, known to many as the rapper Residente, marks Bad Bunny’s debut as a leading actor. The film’s ensemble includes a star-studded supporting cast.
As reported by Deadline, the project will feature talent like Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, and Javier Bardem, with acclaimed director Alejandro G. Iñárritu joining as an executive producer.
Although this will be Bad Bunny’s first lead role, he is no stranger to acting, having appeared in films like F9 and the series Narcos: Mexico in 2021.
He also starred in the 2022 action film Bullet Train and 2023’s Cassandro alongside Gael García Bernal, with his latest performance being in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing.
This film, however, holds significant meaning for both Bad Bunny and director Joglar.
“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,” Joglar, 47, told Deadline.
“This film is a reaffirmation of who we are — told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”
Edward Norton reflected on the project, saying, “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.”
The four-time Oscar nominee continued, noting, “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.”
Bad Bunny’s new venture follows soon after his Super Bowl performance, which stirred conversations due to its vibrant portrayal of Latinx culture.
For the first time in the annual event’s history, Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish, which received mixed reactions from viewers, partly because of the absence of subtitles.
His performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8 included appearances from stars like Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, and Jessica Alba.
In a captivating display, Bad Bunny performed a medley of his hits while paying homage to his nation’s heritage, culminating in a memorable moment when a couple was married live during the show.