United Talent Agency (UTA) has announced the signing of multi-hyphenate artist René Pérez Joglar, better known as Residente, for representation in all areas, Billboard can exclusively announce. The entertainment, sports, and advisory company will also represent his production company, 1868 Studios.
The news arrives alongside the announcement of Residente‘s directorial debut, Porto Rico. The “epic Caribbean western,” as it’s described, tackles the harsh realities of colonialism and paternalism in Puerto Rican history, blending storytelling with an all-star cast. At the film’s helm will be Residente’s longtime collaborator, global music superstar Bad Bunny, taking on his first-ever leading role.
“I’ve dreamed of making a film about my country since I was a child. The true story of Puerto Rico has always been surrounded by controversy,” Residente previously said in a statement. “This film is a reaffirmation of who we are, told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves.”
Renowned filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, Biutiful) is an executive producer of Porto Rico.
Joining Bad Bunny (real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) on screen is an ensemble cast of celebrated actors, including Javier Bardem, Edward Norton, and Viggo Mortensen, with Residente co-writing the script alongside screenwriter and playwright Alexander Dinelaris (The Revenant). The project will also feature Penélope Cruz, who collaborated with Residente on his latest solo album, Las Letras Ya No Importan (2024).
When asked about working with Cruz in 2024, Residente told Billboard Español, “I originally said, ‘I’d like Penélope to be in it. I talked to her and she said yes. Little by little she connected with the song,’” referencing their work on the music video for “313.” Speaking about the creative process, Residente said, “When you’re directing you have to think as a producer, writer, editor, and actor. I’m thinking about everything at the same time.”
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In 2024, Pérez Joglar also debuted as an actor at the Sundance Film Festival with In The Summers, a film that earned the Grand Jury Prize. This year, he made his return to the festival with Frank and Louis, where he stars alongside British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Pérez Joglar first rose to prominence in the mid-2000s as the frontman of Calle 13, a groundbreaking Latin hip-hop duo with its fusion of urban and socially conscious lyrics. He currently holds the record for the most Latin Grammy wins, with 29, followed by Juan Luis Guerra (28).
