Valente Rodriguez, Dannie McCallum & David Barrera Join ‘Popcorn Prophets’ Ahead Of Planned 2027 Production
Popcorn Prophets, the independent feature film set in the Rio Grande Valley, has gained the support of three actors with strong South Texas roots.
Valente Rodriguez (George Lopez), Dannie McCallum (Echo) and David Barrera (DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) join the coming-of-age drama in front of and behind the camera.
Edinburg native Reynaldo Leal serves as writer and producer, with Nate Boyer directing and producing. Production is planned for 2027 in the Rio Grande Valley.
"I’m thrilled that Valente, Dannie and David have agreed to be part of bringing Popcorn Prophets to life," said Leal. "They’ve each built careers beyond the Valley while staying connected to where they come from. Having them believe in this film means a great deal to me, and I’m excited about what we can create together."
(left to right) Valente Rodriguez, Dannie McCallum, and David Barrera.
Rodriguez, from Edcouch-Elsa, played Ernie Cardenas for six seasons on ABC’s George Lopez and starred opposite Fran Drescher in Happily Divorced. His film credits include Blood In Blood Out, Erin Brockovich and McFarland, USA. He has also produced and starred in films locally, including The Red Queen, Los Scavengers, and Gone Hollywood.
McCallum, from Edinburg, portrayed Tuklo in Marvel Studios’ Echo, appeared in Robert Zemeckis’s Here, and recurs in forthcoming Netflix series The God of the Woods. She is a graduate of Texas State University’s performance and production program.
Barrera, from San Juan, has credits spanning more than three decades, including Generation Kill, Bosch, DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and 24, for which he received an ALMA Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series.
McCallum and Barrera previously participated in the film’s sold-out 2025 live stage reading at The Citrus Live in Edinburg, TX. The event brought both actors together with Boyer and Leal to share the screenplay with a hometown audience.
"It was incredible to see this community come together for a story that truly belongs to them," Boyer said following the reading. "We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s great to know the production team can count on South Texas for encouragement and support."
Popcorn Prophets is set in 1990s South Texas, it tells the story of a quiet teenager who carries the weight of his family’s struggles and finds escape and healing at the local movie theater.
The project is currently raising production funds through Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program to support filming in the Valley and local hiring. For more information or to contribute, visit PopcornProphets.com/sponsorships
