Residente Begins Filming Bad Bunny's Feature Debut 'Porto Rico' in the Dominican Republic

On Monday, August 31, 2026, Residente (René Pérez Joglar) shared an Instagram Story showing a production slate for "Porto Rico" — listing himself as director and Anthony Dod Mantle (Oscar winner for Slumdog Millionaire, also shot Snowden) as cinematographer — confirming cameras had started rolling on his feature directorial debut and Bad Bunny's first leading film role. The Caribbean Western, co-written by Residente with Oscar-winning "Birdman" screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris, confronts Puerto Rico's colonial history and also stars Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, and Javier Bardem. Despite the story being set in and centered on Puerto Rico, principal photography is taking place in the Dominican Republic, which producers attributed to infrastructure needs and limitations tied to Puerto Rico's film tax-credit rules. Residente and Erick Douât are producing through 1868 Studios, with Norton, Bill Migliore, and Michael Bederman producing via Class 5 Films; Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Scott Budnick, José E. Feliciano, Kwanza Jones, Henry R. Muñoz III, and Bad Bunny's manager Noah Assad are executive producers. The production start comes roughly a week after Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour closed in San Juan on August 23.