Accidental Texan is a 2023 comedy drama film directed by Mark Bristol and written by Julie B. Denny. It is based on the novel Chocolate Lizards by Cole Thompson.
Fresh-faced recent Harvard student Erwin (Rudy Pankow) flames out of his first professional acting job when he forgets to turn off his phone and triggers an explosive nightmare on set. His career and cell phone in tatters, he flees the New Orleans set, only to have his car break down deep in the heart of Texas oil country.
Seeking refuge and some possible phone service in a local diner, he meets Faye (Carrie-Anne Moss), a kind waitress who takes pity on him and offers up the local phone book to find a mechanic. Without enough funds to fix his car, Erwin accepts an offer from Merle, a local oil driller (Thomas Haden Church) only to find out he too is nearly bankrupt and cannot pay his bills. With both men in desperate straits, Merle realizes their only hope may be Erwin’s acting skills and a little help from Faye’s shotgun.
The cast includes Thomas Haden Church, Rudy Pankow, Carrie Anne-Moss, and Bruce Dern.
Accidental Texan is set to debut in theaters March 8th, courtesy of Roadside Attractions. Watch the official trailer below.