‘The Holdovers’ star Dominic Sessa to play Anthony Bourdain in new A24 biopic
After several years of conjecture, an Anthony Bourdain biopic seems to have finally been green-lit. The project is currently linked to A24, with Dominic Sessa in talks to star. However, nothing seems to be set in stone at this early juncture.
Sessa is a relatively new name in the business, with the most catching wind of his name after a glorious breakthrough role in the 2023 comedy-drama The Holdovers. The movie was directed by Alexander Payne and received an impressive five Oscar nominations, from which it won one, ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
As A24 prepares to take over Tony, the new Bourdain biopic, Tim and Trevor White of Star Thrower and Matt Miller are set to produce alongside executive producer Emily Rose and director Matt Johnson, famed for his work on BlackBerry and Operation Avalanche. Meanwhile, Lou Howe and Todd Bartels wrote the proposed script. Sessa, whose casting was first reported by Deadline, is also lined up for Now You See Me 3 in 2025.
Bourdain was among America’s most beloved celebrity chefs, who broke new ground as an author, TV personality and travel documentarian. He became popular for his unique approach to food, travel, and culture, which resonated with an audience far beyond the bounds of the US, thanks to his relatable personality and acquired taste in music.
After working in various New York City restaurants throughout the 1980s and ’90s, including a prestigious role at Brasserie Les Halles, he achieved widespread fame for the first time when he began writing a collection of essays on the ugly truth about urban restaurants in The New Yorker.
Bourdain became known for his tell-it-like-it-is approach as he traversed into cooking and travel shows. Following several successful shows, the Travel Channel series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations boosted Bourdain to loftier heights of fame across its eight seasons.
Another relatable, if tragic, side to Bourdain’s character was his openness in a struggle with addiction and mental health issues. Though his openness added depth to his public persona, he ultimately succumbed to his invisible ailments in 2018 when he took his own life.
At present, it is not confirmed what parts of Borudain’s life Tony will cover. However, it seems probable that the movie will trace the star’s rise from small-town restaurants to the big screen and his tragic demise thereafter.
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