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Dominic Sessa news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Dominic Sessa plays young Anthony Bourdain in the new A24 biopic 'Tony'. The film is an early Oscar contender, praised for his uncanny portrayal.
Background
Dominic Sessa, known for 'The Holdovers', stars as a young Anthony Bourdain in the A24 film 'Tony', directed by Matt Johnson. The biopic is loosely based on Bourdain's early life and has generated significant buzz as an awards season favorite. Sessa had almost no cooking experience before the role, and the film has been noted for its creative liberties with the truth.
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026Reviews for 'Tony' begin appearing, with The Mercury News calling it an early Oscar contender and WBUR praising it as a surprisingly solid biopic.
- Aug 13, 2026Sessa and chef Eric Ripert discuss the film on 'CBS Mornings'.
- Aug 14, 2026A photo of Sessa as Bourdain is published by Lufkin Daily News.
- Aug 15, 2026The Independent publishes an interview with Sessa about his hellraising past and how it connected him to Bourdain.
- Aug 16, 2026Fox News reviews the film as a charming dramedy, and SCMP reports on the filmmakers' choice to prioritize drama over factual accuracy.
Who’s saying what
- Critics
- The Mercury News calls 'Tony' an early Oscar contender, praising Sessa's uncanny embodiment of Bourdain.
- Reviewers
- SCMP notes that the biopic puts truth on the back burner, with invented characters and experiences.
Still unverified
The extent to which the film's invented characters and events are based on real people or events is not fully disclosed.