René Pérez Joglar (Residente) is set to make his feature directorial debut with PORTO RICO, an epic Caribbean western and historical drama led by Benito Martínez Ocasio (Bullet Train, Caught Stealing) in his first leading film role. The film also stars Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic, Green Book), Edward Norton (American History X, Birdman, A Complete Unknown), and Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), with additional casting to be announced.
PORTO RICO was co-written by René Pérez Joglar and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman), blending historical scope with a visceral, lyrical approach and a gripping narrative inspired by true events.
Pérez Joglar is a 34-time Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning artist, actor (In the Summers, Frank & Louis), and director, and one of the most influential voices in contemporary Puerto Rican and Latin American culture. PORTO RICO marks the realization of a lifelong dream for the multi-hyphenate creator.
“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,” said Pérez Joglar. “This film is a reaffirmation of who we are—told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”
Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât produce for 1868 Studios. Norton and Bill Migliore, alongside Michael Bederman, produce for Class 5 Films. The film is backed by Live Nation Studios, Class 5 Films, and strategic partners including the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, and Noah Assad. Multi-Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu executive produces alongside Scott Budnick and his 1Community banner, Mike Novogratz, Sukey Novogratz, José E. Feliciano, Kwanza Jones, Henry R. Muñoz III, and Noah Assad. UTA Independent Film Group is representing sales.
1868 Studios was launched through a multi-year joint venture between Pérez Joglar, Sony Music Latin-Iberia, and Sony Music Vision. The company develops, produces, and globally distributes original content centered on authentic, culturally driven storytelling. Committed to elevating Latin culture and bringing Latin stories to global audiences, 1868 Studios creates premium projects that highlight heritage, identity, and bold creative expression across formats.
Class 5 Films has produced features and documentaries including The Painted Veil and Motherless Brooklyn, and the Emmy-winning By the People: The Election of Barack Obama.
1Community has produced films like Just Mercy, Respect, and more recently the Emmy-and Critics Choice-nominated Nonnas, showcasing their unique blend of commercial entertainment and social impact.
About deciding to produce 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.”
Pérez Joglar is represented by UTA and Erick Douat. Martínez Ocasio is represented by UTA and manager Noah Assad. Mortensen is represented by UTA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Norton is represented by UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Bardem is represented by WME and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Live Nation Entertainment leads the industry, bringing artists and their live shows to stages worldwide. Live Nation Studios (LNS) was created to help those same artists tell their stories. The Oscar-, Emmy-, and Grammy-nominated division is home to artist-driven films and TV series dedicated to sharing groundbreaking, musically inspired stories for audiences across the globe. LNS is riding an incredible wave of success, including “Stray Kids: The DominATE Experience” becoming the #1 movie worldwide; Anderson .Paak’s “K-Pops!” about to hit cinemas as an AMC Exclusive; “Rolling Loud,” starring Owen Wilson and Matt Rife, receiving theatrical distribution this summer; and the upcoming Noah Kahan documentary being picked up as a Netflix Original and debuting at SXSW. Recent documentary premieres include Miley Cyrus’ “Something Beautiful,” “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” Ty Dolla $ign’s “Still Free TC,” Dustin Lance Black’s “Rock Out,” Becky G’s “Rebbeca,” and “The French Montana Story: For Khadija.” The latest scripted projects announced are “New Year’s Rev,” a Green Day story, as well as The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” LNS’s previous projects include “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” “Moonage Daydream” with David Bowie, and the critically acclaimed “A Star Is Born.” The Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano (Jones•Feliciano) Initiative is a family office and impact platform dedicated to advancing transformative storytelling, cultural equity, and economic opportunity. Through strategic, mission-aligned ventures across media, sports, technology, access to capital, and community initiatives, Jones•Feliciano supports visionary creators elevating stories that reflect the richness and complexity of global communities.