As Deadline announced in 2023, when Porto Rico was in development, Residente and Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman) co-wrote the screenplay, which at the time was described as a historical drama based on the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle), set on the island 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.
Whether the film will follow the original storyline above is as yet unknown. A release for the movie touts that the project “blends historical scope with a visceral, lyrical approach and a gripping narrative inspired by true events.”
