The first trailer for "Tony," a biographical film about a young Anthony Bourdain, has arrived. The footage introduces Dominic Sessa as a 19-year-old Bourdain who stumbles into a restaurant kitchen in Provincetown, setting off a summer that will define his life. The film is directed by Matt Johnson and opens in theaters in August 2026.

The trailer arrives without much fanfare but carries significant weight for fans of the late chef, writer, and television host. Bourdain died in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of travel, food, and unflinching honesty. "Tony" aims to show the origin of that voice — the moment a bored suburban kid from New Jersey found his purpose in the heat and chaos of a professional kitchen.

What the trailer reveals

The 19-year-old Bourdain, played by Sessa, appears adrift before landing in Provincetown, the artsy beach town at the tip of Cape Cod. According to the film's description, he "stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen" and that accidental entry sets his life on a new course. The footage likely shows the clatter of plates, the hiss of hot oil, and the sharp commands of a line cook — the sensory overload that Bourdain himself described in his memoir "Kitchen Confidential."

Sessa, who broke out with a supporting role in Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers," brings a youthful intensity. He is joined by Emilia Jones, Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommers, Stavros Halkias, Leo Woodall, and Antonio Banderas. Banderas's role has not been specified, but his presence suggests a mentor figure or a seasoned chef — likely the kind of character Bourdain wrote about in his early career.

A director with a sharp eye

Matt Johnson is not the first name you'd expect for a biographical drama. He is best known for the darkly comic tech satire "Operation Avalanche" and the critically acclaimed "BlackBerry," a film about the rise and fall of the smartphone company. Johnson has a knack for finding the human tension inside institutional chaos, which bodes well for a story set in a restaurant kitchen. His films often feel like you are watching things fall apart in real time, and that energy could translate well to Bourdain's early years, where every shift was a knife-edge between disaster and triumph.

Johnson co-wrote the screenplay, though the source material does not specify with whom. The film is produced by a team that includes some of the names attached to recent independent dramas, but the exact production companies were not listed in the briefing.

The significance of the story

Bourdain's life has been examined in documentaries (like Morgan Neville's "Roadrunner") and in his own books and television shows. But "Tony" is the first narrative feature to focus on his formative years. Bourdain grew up in Leonia, New Jersey, and attended the Culinary Institute of America before working his way through New York kitchens. His big break came with "Kitchen Confidential," a memoir that exposed the gritty reality of restaurant life with humor and brutal honesty.

The decision to set the film in Provincetown is telling. Bourdain spent time there early in his career, and the town's seasonal restaurant scene — wild, transient, full of characters — served as a crucible. That summer in Provincetown is often cited by Bourdain as the moment he fell in love with the restaurant life. The trailer appears to lean into that romantic chaos: a young man finding himself not in a classroom or a boardroom, but on a hot line, wrists burning, adrenaline pumping.

Cast and performances

Dominic Sessa is the anchor. In "The Holdovers," he played a boarding school student with a sharp tongue and hidden vulnerability. Here, he will need to channel Bourdain's signature mix of swagger and self-doubt. Emilia Jones, who starred in "CODA," could bring a grounded emotional center. Leo Woodall, fresh off "The White Lotus" and "One Day," adds a wiry energy. And Antonio Banderas, a two-time Academy Award nominee, lends the project considerable weight. Banderas played a similar role in Pedro Almodóvar's "Pain and Glory" — a man looking back on a life of art and regret. It is easy to imagine him as a chef who sees something in the young Bourdain.

Stavros Halkias, a comedian known for "The Bonfire" podcast and his stand-up specials, is an unusual but inspired choice. He can deliver humor without undercutting drama, which is exactly what a Bourdain film needs.

Release plans

"Tony" is scheduled to open in theaters in August 2026. That is a summer release, typically reserved for big event films, but independent dramas sometimes stake out August as a counterprogramming opportunity. The film will likely premiere at a major festival before wide release, though no festival plans have been announced.

The trailer dropping now, months ahead of the release, suggests the studio is confident in the product and wants to build word of mouth. For fans of Bourdain, this is the first real glimpse of how the film handles a life that meant so much to so many.

What's missing from the trailer

The source material does not specify the trailer's length, tone, or specific scenes. It does not mention Bourdain's later career, his television shows, or his death. The film appears to be focused tightly on that one transformative summer. That is a smart creative choice — avoiding the temptation to cram an entire life into two hours. By staying small, "Tony" can capture something true about the moment Bourdain became himself.

The biggest question remains: can a movie capture the voice of someone who was already one of the greatest storytellers of his generation? Bourdain's prose was so vivid, so alive, that any film adaptation risks feeling flat by comparison. But with Matt Johnson behind the camera and Sessa in the lead, there is reason to be optimistic.

"Tony" arrives in August 2026. The trailer is out now.