Richard Gadd, Daniel Brühl, And Rubén Blades Among 11 Additions To The Cast Of Residente’s Caribbean Western ‘Porto Rico’

Principal photography is underway in the Dominican Republic on Porto Rico, the feature directorial and screenwriting debut of Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist René “Residente” Pérez Joglar. The production has revealed 11 major additions to its international cast, joining previously announced headliners Benito “Bad Bunny” Martínez Ocasio, Viggo Mortensen, and Edward Norton.

The newly boarded ensemble features Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer), Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds), Rubén Blades (Fear the Walking Dead), Rhenzy Feliz (The Penguin), Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Alberto Guerra (Narcos: Mexico), Marcel Ruiz (One Day at a Time), Arian Cartaya (It: Welcome to Derry), and Spanish actors Óscar Jaenada, Carmen Machi, and Luis Tosar. Character specifics for the new additions remain under wraps. Co-written by Residente and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman), the historical drama is framed as an epic Caribbean western chronicling the late-19th-century life of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, commonly known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle).

The narrative depicts Maldonado Román leading a rebel band of ex-convicts against Spanish colonial rule, extending into the pivotal 1898 United States invasion and annexation of the island following the Spanish-American War, when the territory was officially rebranded as “Porto Rico.” Both Norton and Mortensen, who are fluent in Spanish, portray historical figures tied to the American occupation forces. Residente’s behind-the-scenes team includes Oscar-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire), production designer David Crank (Killers of the Flower Moon), and costume designer Anna Terrazas (Bardo).

Porto Rico is produced by Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât for 1868 Studios alongside Norton, Bill Migliore, and Michael Bederman for Class 5 Films. Alejandro G. Iñárritu executive produces alongside a roster of executive producers that includes Scott Budnick, Noah Assad, Michael Rapino, Ryan Kroft, and Stella Bulochnikov. The production is financed through Live Nation Studios, Class 5 Films, HarbourView Equity Media Group, Talipot Studio, and the José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones Initiative.

UTA Independent Film Group is overseeing worldwide distribution sales.