The first trailer for ‘Tony’, the upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic, is here and it’s already turning heads. Movie protagonists Dominic SessaBest known for his breakout role in ‘The Holdovers’, as a 19-year-old Bourdain navigating his first job in a Cape Cod kitchen in the mid-’70s. The trailer gives a raw, unfiltered look at the early years of one of the most beloved food personalities of his generation, complete with the character’s iconic line: “Actually, I’m not a badass cook, I’m a writer.“The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones and Leo Woodall, and will be released this summer.
What is ‘Tony’ about?
‘Tony’ comes from Canadian director Matt Johnson, who shot to fame for his 2023 film ‘BlackBerry’, an unusual retelling of the story behind the now-discontinued mobile phone. Johnson recently directed and starred in ‘Nirvanna the Band – the Show – the Movie’ to positive reviews. Rather than attempt to chronicle Bourdain’s entire life, the film focuses on a transformative summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1975, portraying the restless young man who would eventually become a global icon in food, travel and storytelling.
Why director Matt Johnson chose Dominic Sessa for the role
Johnson spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the decision to cast Sessa, noting the striking similarities between the actress and her subject. “Both from Jersey, both were sent to private school, but they weren’t getting in, restless and searching,” she said.He described the making of the film as a deeply collaborative process. “I knew a scene was working when Dom said, ‘That sounds good,’ and I knew it wasn’t when he said, ‘Why would I say this?’ More than any film I’ve ever made, this film was a collaboration with an actor. He’s in every shot of the film, and he carries the whole story on his crooked shoulders.”Since her famous turn in ‘The Holdovers’, Sessa has appeared in ‘Now You See Me 3’ and the Christmas comedy ‘Oh’. what Funny.” With ‘Tony’, he is now taking on arguably his most demanding role yet.Bourdain’s life was explored in the 2021 documentary ‘Roadrunner: A Film About’. Anthony Bourdain‘. With ‘Tony’ arriving this summer, a new generation of viewers will experience the beginnings of the man who taught the world to be better explorers in their own ways, as his legacy dictated.With ‘Tony’ arriving this summer, a new generation of viewers will experience the beginnings of the man who, as his legacy dictated, taught the world to be better explorers in its own ways, ahead of its August 2026 release.
