A24 is making a biopic about Anthony Bourdain’s life, focusing on a pivotal period in the chef and author’s life. Rising star Dominic Sessa, who made a splash with his film debut in The Holdover, will play Bourdain in the film titled Tony.
The film is expected to focus on the summer of 1976 when young Anthony Bourdain was working in a restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts—this was a key time that played an important role in his later evolution as a global symbol of gastronomy and travel shows.
Production is in the early stages, with filming scheduled for next month. Matt Johnson is directing, and the script is by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. Antonio Banderas will also be part of the cast, but his role is currently unknown.
After his participation in Alexander Payne’s film, Dominic Sessa has already completed three more movie projects, including the sequel Now You See Me: Now You Don’t with Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo, the Christmas comedy Oh. What. Fun with Michelle Pfeiffer, and the courtroom drama Tow, based on true events, where he co-stars with Rose Byrne. Antonio Banderas is also continuing strongly, as he recently appeared in the drama Babygirl alongside Nicole Kidman and played a rival in the children’s movie Paddington in Peru.
Anthony Bourdain took his own life in 2018, leaving an indelible mark on the fields of gastronomy, writing, and television. The documentary Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain by Morgan Neville shed light on aspects of his public and personal life, and now this new film endeavor promises to uncover the beginnings of his journey.
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