by Alex Billington
July 14, 2026
Source: YouTube
“Bourdan’s life shows us; you can live right on the edge & learn so much from the failures, that it creates you.” A24 has revealed a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Tony, made by brilliant Canadian filmmaker Matt Johnson (following Operation Avalanche, BlackBerry, and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie). Ready for release in August during the summer. This film is about the real life chef / author / TV personality Anthony Bourdain, best known as the iconic host of travel program “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” on CNN. Dominic Sessa (from The Holdovers) star as the young Tony during his early years. The movie takes place back in 1976, when a young Bourdain had a life-changing experience working as a line chef in Provincetown, MA –which became the basis of his book “Kitchen Confidential“. It follows Bourdain, angsty aspiring writer, as he pursues a girl who eventually draws him into the culinary world. This stars Sessa as “Tony”, Emilia Jones, Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer, Stavros Halkias, Leo Woodall, with Antonio Banderas. So far so good, I’m enjoying all of this footage and these behind-the-scenes glimpses. Plus I’m always excited to watch any new movie made by Matt Johnson. It will be out in theaters very soon.
Here’s the first look making of featurette for Matt Johnson’s film Tony, direct from A24’s YouTube:
You can watch the first official trailer for Matt Johnson’s Tony movie right here for even more footage.
“I was – to be frank – a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.” A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain (starring Dominic Sessa) travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life. Tony is directed by illustrious Canadian comedian / actor / writer / filmmaker Matt Johnson, director of the movies The Dirties, Operation Avalanche, BlackBerry, and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie previously, plus other shorts and TV. The screenplay is written by Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe. Based on the life of the late Anthony Bourdain and his book “Kitchen Confidential“. Produced by Tim White, Trevor White, Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller. A24 debuts Matt Johnson’s Tony film in US theaters starting August 7th, 2026 this summer. Looking forward to it?
