Canadian Matt Johnson Stars in Anthony Bourdain Biopic Tony

Director Matt Johnson and actor Dominic Sessa are teaming up for Tony, a new biographical drama focusing on the formative teenage years of late chef and author Anthony Bourdain, according to production details and interviews from the film’s Toronto premiere. Set during the summer of 1975 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the A24 film departs from traditional cradle-to-grave biopics to examine Bourdain’s early experiences working in a seafood restaurant kitchen.

From Dishwasher to Culinary Icon: The 1975 Cape Cod Origin Story

According to the source material in Bourdain’s bestselling 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, the author’s decision to enter the culinary world solidified while working as a 19-year-old dishwasher at a Cape Cod seafood joint. Director Matt Johnson noted in interviews that the project looks past the glamorized myths of restaurant culture to unpack the complex, darker realities of youth and ambition during that pivotal summer.

Unlike conventional adaptations that trace a subject’s entire rise to global fame and subsequent struggles with addiction, Tony narrows its scope entirely to the wild contours of a young man testing boundaries. Dominic Sessa stars as the teenage Bourdain, capturing a period of transition and discovery that both the actor and director found mirrored in their own early lives.

Casting Breakthroughs and Studio Transitions for Zapruder Films

The project came together after Matt Johnson’s Canadian dramedy BlackBerry swept the Canadian Screen Awards, winning a record 14 trophies, according to production background. Following that success, Johnson and producer Matthew Miller were approached with a spec script by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. In March 2024, the creative team met actor Dominic Sessa at New York’s Hotel Chelsea after being impressed by his breakout performance in the 2023 comedy The Holdovers.

With Sessa attached, the production secured backing from U.S. company Star Thrower—which held the approval of the Bourdain estate—before selling the film to indie studio A24. Matthew Miller noted that stepping outside the insular Canadian financing system meant relinquishing some creative control to studio backers, though it provided a level of financial stability and scale previously unavailable to their Toronto-based Zapruder Films productions.

Recreating 1975 Provincetown on a Compressed Schedule

Production took place during a compressed spring 2025 on-location shoot in Provincetown, Massachusetts, timed to wrap before the Fourth of July tourist influx priced the crew out, according to production notes. Cinematographer Michael Bauman joined the team alongside production designer Ryan Warren Smith, shaping an aesthetic designed to mimic the experience of flipping through the pages of a book.

Following principal photography, Johnson returned to Toronto for postproduction, relying on a trusted “screening committee” of Zapruder Films collaborators—including Jared Raab, Matt Greyson, Adam Belanger, Ben Petrie, and Luca Tarantini—to review cuts. Tony is scheduled to open in theatres in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver on August 14, before expanding nationwide on August 21.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the plot of the Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony?

According to production details from A24, Tony focuses exclusively on a single pivotal summer in 1975 when a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain worked as a dishwasher in Provincetown, Massachusetts, sparking his lifelong passion for kitchen culture.

Who stars in Tony?

Dominic Sessa stars as the teenage Anthony Bourdain. The ensemble cast also features Antonio Banderas as restaurant owner and mentor Ciro, alongside Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall, Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer, and Stavros Halkias, according to promotional releases.

When is Tony releasing in theaters?

The film opens in select Canadian cities—including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—on August 14, with a wider national expansion following on August 21.