Nate Boyer to direct Popcorn Prophets
EDINBURG, Texas [August 9, 2025] - Popcorn Prophets, the upcoming feature film set in the Rio Grande Valley, has officially attached Nate Boyer as its director.
Boyer is a U.S. Army Green Beret, former NFL player, and filmmaker whose work bridges themes of service, resilience, and transformation. After serving three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Boyer walked on to the University of Texas football team with no prior experience and later became the oldest rookie in NFL history at age 34 with the Seattle Seahawks. He has since built a dynamic career in film and television, merging personal experience with a passion for human-centered storytelling.
Written and produced by Edinburg native Reynaldo Leal, Popcorn Prophets is a coming-of-age story about a lonely teenager caught between faith and survival who finds hope and escape at the local movie theater. Set in the 1990s, the film is a love letter to South Texas, to struggling families, and to the stories that carry us through.
“This story is deeply personal,” said Leal. “And Nate understands it in a way that feels honest and rare. His leadership, his compassion, and his commitment to telling meaningful stories make him the perfect person to bring Popcorn Prophets to life.”
Production is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026 on location in the Rio Grande Valley. Casting is currently underway.
For more information or to support the project, visit: https://www.filmindependent.org/sponsored-projects/popcorn-prophets/
NATE BOYER
"As soon as I read the script for Popcorn Prophets, I was in. You don't have to be Latino or from the Rio Grand Valley for the story to connect, it hits hard.
A quiet teenager in South Texas; a family barely holding it together; and a local movie theater that becomes his only escape. It’s raw, honest, and full of soul.
The screenplay was written by Reynaldo Leal, a Marine Corps veteran from the RGV who poured his heart into every scene. It’s personal for him, and now it’s personal for me too. I’m proud to direct this film and be a part of something that speaks to struggle, survival, and the power of storytelling."
