New 'Tony' trailer: Dominic Sessa plays a young Anthony Bourdain in A24's intimate film set during a transformative Cape Cod summer, hitting theaters this Au...
- May 6, 2026
AceShowbiz - Dominic Sessa takes center stage as a youthful Anthony Bourdain in the recently released trailer for Tony, a new film produced by A24. Directed by Matt Johnson, the movie is set to hit theaters this August and promises an intimate glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of Bourdain’s life.
The film features Sessa portraying a 19-year-old version of the celebrated chef and author, long before he became a household name. Alongside him, the cast includes Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall, Antonio Banderas, Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommers, and Stavros Halkias.
Tony focuses on a pivotal summer in 1975, when the young Bourdain takes a job at a restaurant on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This period represents a transformative phase in his life, shaping the man who would later explore the world through food and storytelling. The movie delves into this specific timeframe rather than attempting to capture the entirety of Bourdain’s life and career.
In the trailer, Sessa candidly states, "I'm actually not a fucking cook. I'm a writer. But I said I know how to cook." This line highlights the film’s portrayal of Bourdain’s emerging identity and aspirations during his early years.
Matt Johnson, known for directing Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie and BlackBerry, co-wrote the script with Matthew Miller, Todd Bartels, and Lou Howe. The production team also includes Johnson, Miller, Tim White, and Trevor White as producers, ensuring a collaborative vision behind the project.
The estate of Anthony Bourdain has publicly endorsed the film, clarifying their reasons for support. They emphasized that Tony is not a conventional biopic and does not attempt to summarize Bourdain’s entire life. Instead, they note the film is an interpretation focused on one specific summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts, a time that remains somewhat mysterious.
The official statement from Bourdain’s estate praised the movie for capturing the complexity, intellectual curiosity, and conviction that characterized Bourdain’s personality. These qualities, they said, ultimately propelled him around the globe and inspired many admirers.
They expressed hope that Tony will remind viewers that every remarkable journey begins somewhere, offering insight into the formative experiences of the man who inspired countless people to explore their own paths more boldly.
