A24 Considering Star Thrower Entertainment’s Anthony Bourdain Biopic ‘Tony’, With ‘The Holdovers’ Breakout Dominic Sessa In Talks To Play Lead Role

Dominic Sessa appears to have found his next high-profile project after his breakout role in the Oscar-winning dramedy The Holdovers. According to sources, he is set to play the late chef Anthony Bourdain in the biopic Tony from Oscar-nominated production company Star Thrower Entertainment. Sources additionally tell that A24 is in negotiations to receive the package.

Together with director Matt Johnson, producers include Star Thrower’s Tim Trevor White and Matt Miller. The script was written by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. Emily Rose will executive produce.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Bourdain cooked in several Manhattan restaurants, including Brasserie Les Halles, where he was the executive chef. However, it was his essay collection about the ugly secrets of restaurants that made him famous. Bourdain became an instant star in the media food scene after they were published in The New Yorker due to his point-blank, tell-it-like-it-is tone, which audiences were not used to.

He would start hosting various TV shows, yet it was his Travel Channel series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations that made him star over its eight-season run. Bourdain died by suicide in 2018.

It is unknown when in his life this project will occur.

Star Thrower is no more bizarre than the biopic. having produced King Richard, which led to Will Smith’s nomination for Best Picture and win for Lead Actor. The organization just wrapped production on the A24 film Eternity.

As for Sessa, the rising actor has several projects to select from after his star-making turn in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers. While his co-stars Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph acquired Oscar nominations — Randolph ended up winning — Sessa held his own and procured strong reviews following the movie festival premiere.

Johnson most recently directed the widely praised dark comedy Blackberry.

Johnson is represented by CAA and Chris Spicer at Akin Gump; At Hansen Jacobson Teller, Sessa is represented by CAA, Untitled, and Steve Warren; Miller is represented by CAA and Chris Spicer at Akin Gump. Mosaic and attorney Andre Des Rochers represent Howe and Bartels.