Fans are already buzzing in regards to the upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony,” with early reactions full of anticipation. The film chronicles the lifetime of the late chef and tv icon, with Dominic Sessa moving into the lead role and Antonio Banderas rounding out the solid.
Excitement ramped up after the discharge of the movie’s first official poster, which confirmed that “Tony” is slated to reach in theaters this summer.
The primary official poster for “Tony” gives fans an early glimpse at Sessa moving into Bourdain’s shoes. Within the image, the actor strikes a firm, almost defiant pose while wearing a chef’s uniform, with a busy kitchen scene and fellow chefs blurred out behind him.
The poster also contains a striking quote that appears to nod to Bourdain’s early years and private transformation: “I used to be—to be frank—a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of -ss-kicking.”
Fans Praise Casting Alternative For Bourdain Biopic
A biopic about Bourdain is ready to hit theaters later in August, and a newly released poster has fans already buzzing with anticipation. Many were especially thrilled to see Sessa tapped to portray the late culinary icon.
“Oh, he was so fabulous in ‘The Holdovers.’ Excited to see him on this,” one fan wrote, while one other added, “Been wondering what he would do next. This kid goes places.”
“As an enormous Bourdain fan, I’ll be pretty emotional if Dominic Sessa manages to capture the wittiness/cynicism that Tony had,” a 3rd user shared.
Others pointed to director Matt Johnson as another excuse for the hype, with one fan noting, “Anything Matt Johnson does, I’m hyped for.”
Dominic Sessa Teases Anthony Bourdain Biopic Timeline
Ahead of the film’s summer release, Dominic Sessa has offered a rare glimpse into what fans can expect from the upcoming Tony biopic.
The actor shared the main points while attending the premiere of the third installment of the “Now You See Me” franchise on November 10, 2025, revealing that the film takes a more focused approach to Anthony Bourdain’s early years.
“It’s a kind of origin story in a way,” Sessa told PEOPLE Magazine on the time. He also noted that production took place in early 2025 across locations in and around Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Sessa further hinted at the precise chapter of Bourdain’s life being explored, explaining that the story is ready within the mid-Nineteen Seventies.
Sessa Calls Bourdain Role ‘Best Experience’
That very same month, Sessa sat down with Entertainment Weekly to open up about moving into Bourdain’s shoes within the upcoming “Tony.” The actor described it as “among the best experiences of my life,” explaining that portraying the chef at an earlier stage made the role much more meaningful.
Sessa also said the film allowed him to attach with individuals who knew Bourdain during his adolescence, when he was still finding his voice and fervour.
In line with him, some of the surprising things he discovered was that Bourdain didn’t initially dream of becoming a chef. As a substitute, he had ambitions of becoming a author before eventually mixing each passions into what would define his legacy.
“He created an ideal kind of synergy of those things, which made him such a selected and special person,” Sessa said.
‘Tony’ Director Claimed Sessa Had ‘Uncanny’ Connection To Anthony Bourdain
Meanwhile, director Johnson opened up about casting Sessa as Bourdain within the upcoming “Tony.”
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that Sessa wasn’t initially offered the role. Nevertheless, after spending time with the actor, he realized there have been striking similarities between Sessa’s life and Bourdain’s early journey.
Johnson described those parallels as “uncanny,” explaining that he could often tell whether a scene was working just by watching Sessa’s reactions. To him, it was proof that the actor wasn’t just performing, but truly inhabiting the character.
“Greater than any movie I’ve ever made, this film was a partnership with an actor,” Johnson said. “He’s in every shot of the movie and carries the whole story on his hunched shoulders.”