A24's Anthony Bourdain biopic ‘Tony' stars Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas
Dominic Sessa, best known for his breakout performance in 'The Holdovers,' has officially signed on to portray the late chef and author Anthony Bourdain in an upcoming A24 biopic titled Tony.
The film, directed by Matt Johnson (BlackBerry), will chronicle a pivotal moment in Bourdain's early life — his transformative time in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1976.
Joining Sessa in the cast is Oscar-nominated actor Antonio Banderas, whose role has yet to be disclosed. Production for Tony is scheduled to begin next month.
The biopic is set before Bourdain enrolled in culinary school, focusing on his experiences that ultimately inspired his renowned culinary and storytelling career. Bourdain rose to global prominence with the release of his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly and gained further fame through Emmy-winning TV series such as No Reservations and Parts Unknown. He passed away in 2018 in Strasbourg, France at the age of 61.
Tony is written by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. The film is being co-produced and co-financed by A24, Star Thrower Entertainment, and Zapruder Films. Star Thrower, led by Tim and Trevor White, recently wrapped another A24 project titled Eternity. Director Johnson co-produces alongside Matthew Miller under the Zapruder banner.
Bourdain's estate representative, Kimberly Witherspoon, will serve as executive producer, along with Chris Stinson, Amy Greene, Lou Howe, Todd Bartels, and Emily Rose.
Sessa is represented by CAA, Untitled, and Steve Warren at Hansen Jacobson. Banderas is repped by Emanuel Nunez of NuCo Media Group and George Hayum. Director Matt Johnson is repped by CAA and Chris Spicer at Akin Gump.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pulitzer drama ‘Purpose' takes top play at Broadway's 2025 Tonys
NEW YORK: The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Purpose' won the 2025 best play award at the annual Tony Awards during a gala ceremony on Sunday night, capping a record-grossing post-pandemic Broadway theater season. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Buoyed by a post-pandemic rebound, the 2024-25 season grossed a record $1.89 billion in revenue and drew 14.7 million attendees, the Broadway League said. Host Cynthia Erivo, the 'Wicked' film star, opened the show at Radio City Music Hall with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in 'Sunset Blvd.' TV's 'Succession' star Sarah Snook, who made her Broadway debut this season, won best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for 'Yellow Face.' He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: 'This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big.' The original cast of 'Hamilton,' including the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, reunited to perform an electric medley in honor of the musical's 10th anniversary. 'Stranger Things' play wins Tony Awards, setting stage for TV series finale The number also served as a re-introduction to Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, a role he will resume in the production later this year for a limited time. Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Purpose.' Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in 'Buena Vista Social Club.' Other awards remained to be announced. Alongside the creative highs this year were economic realities plaguing producers and audiences alike. Premium seats for some productions run upwards from $400, prompting concern that Broadway is increasingly out of reach for casual and younger theater lovers. Even with lotteries and rush ticket programs, demand-driven pricing has become the norm. Rising production costs a factor Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, said in a statement that rising costs have affected every facet of production, making it harder and harder to bring live theater to the stage. The Broadway League presents the awards along with the American Theatre Wing. This season showcased a wide range of voices and perspectives, with many shows being led by Asian American, Black, Middle Eastern and Hispanic actors and resulting in some historic nominations. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the Theater. 'I dedicate this award to the people in the dark,' he said, 'and I offer my most profound thanks to the people in my community.' Tony winner Celia Keenan-Bolger received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her dedication to advocacy work through the arts, including helping to found the Gavin Creel Fellowship, which Keenan-Bolger said will benefit young actors who don't come from money when they arrive in New York City, as Creel requested. Creel died at age 48 from a rare form of cancer in September. Darren Criss, a Tony nominee this year for 'Maybe Happy Ending,' and Renée Elise Goldsberry, who won a 2016 Tony for her performance in 'Hamilton,' announced technical awards in a pre-show ceremony which included best original score for 'Maybe Happy Ending'; best costume design for 'Death Becomes Her'; best scenic design for a musical for 'Maybe Happy Ending' and best lighting for 'Sunset Blvd.'
Business Recorder
14 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘Stranger Things' play wins Tony Awards, setting stage for TV series finale
NEW YORK: With bloody body contortions, booming blasts and brooding high school angst, 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow,' based on the 12-time Emmy-winning Netflix science fiction series 'Stranger Things,' took home Tony Awards on Sunday for best scenic design, lighting design and sound design of a play along with a special award for its illusions and technical effects. Miriam Buether, the scenic designer for 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' reflected on the journey of creating frightening moments on stage. 'We love scaring people,' she said backstage at the ceremony hosted by 'Wicked' film star Cynthia Erivo. The play, directed by Stephen Daldry, was nominated for five Tony Awards in total, including best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for Louis McCartney for his performance as Henry Creel, the younger version of the main antagonist of the 'Stranger Things' series who is later called Vecna. 'Stranger Things: First Shadow' is one of the expansions of the 'Stranger Things' universe created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, who announced the launch of Upside Down Pictures in 2022, marking an overall deal with Netflix that will also include a live-action Stranger Things spin-off series. The series has spawned video games, cosplay, in-person immersive experiences and merchandise licensing deals, including the January 2025 deal with the company behind the popular Squishmallow plush toys. Last month, at Netflix's globally livestreamed fan event called 'Tudum Live,' it was announced that the 'Stranger Things' TV series would have a fifth and final season split into three parts, with part one on November 26, 2025, part two on December 25, 2025 and the series finale on December 31, 2025. The final season of 'Stranger Things' was delayed by dual Hollywood strikes in 2023. Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace 'Stranger Things,' the story of a group of adolescent friends in rural Indiana in the 1980s who battle creatures from an alternate dimension called the 'Upside Down,' premiered on Netflix in 2016 and became a smash hit created by the Duffer brothers for the streaming platform. The play, produced by the Duffer brothers, takes audiences back in time to 1959, two decades before the period explored in the TV show. Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado - adult characters in the TV show - are seen as high school classmates with normal teen concerns about cars and classes until a new student named Henry arrives. Henry Creel is an odd and troubled boy that holds the future of the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in his hands. The New York cast includes 'Harlem' actor Burke Swanson as Jim Hopper, 'Shameless' actor Alison Jaye as Joyce Maldonado and McCartney as Henry Creel, who reprised his role after being in the London production. The monster-filled play debuted in London in 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre and made its New York Broadway debut in March 2025 at the Marquis Theatre.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Jared Leto denies allegations after getting accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women
Jared Leto has denied multiple allegations of sexual misconduct following a detailed report published by Air Mail on June 7. The report includes accounts from several women, with four alleging they were underage when they first interacted with the Oscar-winning actor and musician. Two women, DJ Allie Teilz and Laura La Rue, went on the record. Teilz stated in a resurfaced 2012 Facebook post, 'You're not really in L.A. until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you backstage… In a kilt.. And a snow hat.' She added on Instagram, 'I was assaulted and traumatised by this creep when I was 17. He knew my age and didn't care.' Leto's representative responded, 'Ms. Teilz's allegations are demonstrably false.' Laura La Rue alleged she met Leto at an animal rights benefit in 2008, told him she was 16, and later visited him at his studio. She claimed he once appeared completely naked. Leto's rep responded, 'Their communications contain nothing sexual or inappropriate,' and noted La Rue had allegedly applied to be his personal assistant—an assertion she denies. Additional claims include one woman who said Leto began calling her repeatedly after they met at a Los Angeles café when she was 16. She alleged the calls became sexual. Another actress claimed that, after turning 18, Leto exposed himself and initiated unwanted sexual contact. Leto's rep issued a blanket statement to Air Mail: 'All of the allegations are expressly denied.' The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman has not made a personal public comment as of this publication.
