- Primary Subject: Tony (Anthony Bourdain Biopic)
- Key Update: A24 released the official trailer featuring Dominic Sessa, sparking debate over its focus on Bourdain’s 1975 origins rather than his global fame.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 6, 2026
- Quick Answer: Directed by Matt Johnson, Tony is a coming-of-age anti-biopic starring Dominic Sessa that depicts Anthony Bourdain’s formative summer as a line cook in 1975.
A24 has released the official trailer for its Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, and it’s already breaking the internet.
The reaction online is divided, not only over the trailer itself, but also over the film’s premise, with some fearing it may upset viewers due to how it portrays the life of the late celebrity chef.
However, others are excited to revisit and celebrate Bourdain’s legacy on screen. So, here’s what fans and critics are saying about the Tony trailer.
Internet Reacts to Anthony Bourdain Biopic Trailer
The Anthony Bourdain biopic trailer gives an introspective first look at the life of the late chef, writer, and travel icon.
But instead of featuring his once-celebrated celebrity life, the clip shows Bourdain’s early struggles and his rise in the culinary world.
So, as the trailer seems to suggest that Tony will focus on the beginning of Bourdain’s career rather than his success story, it quickly sparks online conversation about its direction.
X user @HamHock42 can’t help but compare Tony with the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which is said to be about the iconic singer’s entire life but only focuses on the Nebraska album era.
@ArthurBoreman added that the film doesn’t depict how miserable Bourdain was in real life, citing his feud with Guy Fieri.
While praising the “super talented” cast of Tony, led by Dominic Sessa, @LowresWB hopes the trailer is just a “misfire” for failing to make him feel the real Anthony Bourdain vibe.
Despite the criticisms, there are also a few who are excited to see Tony.
By the looks of it, Tony isn’t the traditional biopic fans are expecting. Instead, it is a character study that shows how Anthony Bourdain started it all.
What Is the Anthony Bourdain Biopic Tony About?
Directed by Matt Johnson, Tony follows a transformative summer in Anthony Bourdain’s life in 1975.
At 19, he found his calling while working in a chaotic seafood restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Dubbed a coming-of-age “anti-biopic,” the film details his transition from a brash college student to a hardworking line cook, exploring his early days as an arrogant and self-destructive young man.
In addition to Dominic Sessa, Tony also features Antonio Banderas as restaurant owner Ciro, Emilia Jones as Tony’s love interest Nancy, Leo Woodall as Sal, Stavros Halkias as Dimitri, Rich Sommer as Pierre Bourdain, Monica Raymund as Mary, Caroline Portu as Robin, and Michael Jibrin as Tyrone.
Bourdain’s estate has also approved of the film, particularly because it focuses on a brief period of his life as a chef in the making.
“We appreciate the portrayal of Tony’s complexity, his intellectual appetite, and his conviction–qualities that eventually took him around the globe and endeared him to so many,” the statement reads (via Consequence). “We hope this film serves as a reminder that every journey has a beginning, and that audiences see the origins of the man who taught us how to be better explorers on our own paths.”
Tony is scheduled for release in August 2026.
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