Ismael Cruz Córdova has landed a rico role…
The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of René “Residente” Pérez Joglar’s feature film screenwriting and directing debut, Porto Rico.
Cameras are officially rolling in the Dominican Republic on the film starring Benito “Bad Bunny” Martínez Ocasio, Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton.
Cruz Córdova is one of 11 new additions to the cast. Others include: Richard Gadd, Rhenzy Feliz, Daniel Brühl, Latin music icon Rubén Blades, Alberto Guerra, Marcel Ruiz, Arian Cartaya, Óscar Jaenada, Carmen Machi and Luis Tosar.
From a screenplay by Alexander Dinelaris and Residente, Porto Rico is an epic Caribbean western and historical drama inspired by true events. The film blends historical scope with a visceral, lyrical narrative exploring Puerto Rico’s origins.
The screenplay is based on the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca, set in the late 19th century. Maldonado Román fought against colonialism by leading a gang of ex-convicts to vindicate Puerto Rico as it sought its identity as a country.
It will also cover the 1898 U.S.A. takeover of Puerto Rico from Spain, which saw the renaming of the island as Porto Rico.
Norton and Mortensen, both of whom are fluent in Spanish, are playing roles connected to their country of origin. And while the production lost a Spaniard in Bardem, three new Spanish natives are part of the cast: Jaenada, Machi and Tosar.
Further details regarding who the new actors will play are under wraps.
Behind the camera, the creative team features major award winners and nominees: cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, production designer David Crank and costume designer Anna Terrazas.
Pérez Joglar and Erick Douât produce Porto Rico for 1868 Studios alongside Norton, Bill Migliore, and Michael Bederman for Class 5 Films. The film is backed by Live Nation Studios, Class 5 Films, and strategic partners including the José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones Initiative, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, Henry R. Muñoz III, Ric Elias, and Noah Assad. Additional strategic partners include HarbourView Equity Media Group, Talipot Studio, and Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu executive produces alongside Michael Rapino, Ryan Kroft, Stella Bulochnikov, Scott Budnick, Jones, Feliciano, Mike and Sukey Novogratz, Assad, Muñoz III, Elias, Sherrese Clarke, Niija Kuykendall, Regina Solórzano, and Lakshmi Iyengar. UTA Independent Film Group is handling sales.