The Origin of a Legend: A24 Announces ‘Tony’
Before he became the global face of culinary exploration and a champion of authentic cultural experiences, Anthony Bourdain was a young man searching for his place in the world. A24 is set to bring this formative period to life in the upcoming feature film, Tony, directed by the visionary Matt Johnson.
Unlike traditional biographical films that attempt to chronicle an entire lifetime, Tony takes a more intimate, focused approach. The movie centers on a pivotal summer in 1975 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where a 19-year-old Bourdain lands a high-stakes restaurant job on Cape Cod.
A Cast Ready to Bring the Heat
Taking on the challenging role of the titular character is Dominic Sessa (known for his breakout performance in The Holdovers). Sessa portrays Bourdain during a time of intellectual awakening and professional desperation. In a revealing moment from the trailer, Sessa’s character admits a bold lie: “I’m actually not a fucking cook… I’m a writer. But I said I know how to cook.”
The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, including:
- Emilia Jones
- Leo Woodall
- Antonio Banderas
- Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommers, and Stavros Halkias.
Not Your Average Biopic
The decision to produce this film came with the full blessing of the Bourdain Estate. In a statement, the estate emphasized that they supported Tony precisely because it avoids the clichés of the “standard biopic.” Instead of summarizing a life, the film offers an interpretation of a period that remains largely shrouded in mystery.
The estate noted that the film captures Bourdain’s “complexity, his intellectual appetite, and his conviction”—the very traits that would eventually lead him to travel the globe and inspire millions to become better explorers of their own lives.
Production and Release
Directed by Matt Johnson (the mind behind BlackBerry), the screenplay was a collaborative effort between Johnson, Matthew Miller, Todd Bartels, and Lou Howe. The film promises to be a atmospheric journey into the grit and passion of the 1970s culinary scene.
Mark your calendars: Tony is scheduled to hit theatres this August. Whether you are a lifelong fan of Bourdain’s writing or a cinephile looking for a raw, character-driven story, this is a release you won’t want to miss.
