Hollywood Star Transforms into Young Anthony Bourdain in Chilling Biopic First Look

A Hollywood star transformed into Anthony Bourdain while filming scenes for the upcoming biopic Tony earlier this week in Massachusetts.

The Holdovers star Dominic Sessa, 22, could be seen stepping into the shoes of a younger version of the late celebrity chef while on the set of the A24 project in Provincetown on Thursday.

Bourdain was known for starring in shows including the Travel Channel’s No Reservations and CNN’s Parts Unknown before his tragic death by suicide in 2018 at the age of 61.

Sessa wore a pair of black flared trousers and a red button up which was layered with a black leather jacket, which fit the ’70s time period.

The budding actor also sported brown curly hair as he shot scenes on a ferry.

Dominic was seen holding a conversation with another person while leaning against a railing as the ferry slowly moved along the water.

A Hollywood star transformed into Anthony Bourdain while filming scenes for the upcoming biopic Tony earlier this week in Massachusetts

Dominic Sessa, 22, could be seen stepping into the shoes of a younger version of the late celebrity chef Bourdain (pictured in his youth) while on set of the A24 project in Provincetown on Thursday

While the official synopsis has remained under wraps, the biopic is slated to follow Bourdain’s summer in 1976 in Provincetown, where he had his first introduction to the restaurant industry.

Back in April, it was revealed that Antonio Banderas has also joined the cast, although his role is not yet known.

The movie will be directed by Matt Johnson, with a screenplay by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe.

Sessa began his film career by portraying teenager Angus Tully in The Holdovers (2023) alongside Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

The movie was a critical success, and Dominic’s performance was singled out for recognition.

He was honored with Best Young Performer at the Critics’ Choice Awards last year, as well as Best Breakthrough Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards.

The actor also recently took on a role in Tow (2025) alongside Rose Byrne, Ariana DeBose, Demi Lovato and Octavia Spencer.

Dominic will appear in the Christmas comedy film Oh. What. Fun (2025) and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025).

Bourdain was known for starring in shows such as Travel Channel’s No Reservations and Parts Unknown for CNN before his tragic death by suicide in 2018 at 61; seen in 2016 in NYC

Sessa wore a pair of black flared trousers and a red button up which was layered with a black leather jacket, fitting the ’70s time period. The budding actor also sported brown curly hair while shooting scenes on a ferry

Dominic was seen holding a conversation with another person while leaning against a railing as the ferry slowly moved along the water

While the official synopsis has remained under wraps, the biopic is expected to follow Bourdain’s summer in 1976 in Provincetown, where he had his first introduction to the restaurant industry

Back in April, it was revealed that Antonio Banderas has also joined the cast, though his role is not yet known

The movie will be directed by Matt Johnson with a screenplay by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe

Sessa began his film career by portraying teenager Angus Tully in The Holdovers (2023) alongside Paul Giamatti (R) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Anthony Bourdain began his career in the food industry while studying at Vassar College and took on jobs at seafood restaurants in Provincetown.

In an interview with Boston Magazine in 2017, the TV personality reflected on his time in the seaside town.

‘It’s a very emotional place for me. I came of age there in the early ’70s in a very magical, golden, naïve time that I don’t think we’ll see the likes of again.’

He continued, ‘And I will say being in Provincetown when I was 17… it was predominantly gay, as it still is. It was a time in history of boundless optimism when we really thought anything was possible.

‘I think of the people I lived with and worked with and who befriended me then… whatever value system I learned then informed what came later.’

Bourdain further reflected, ‘That’s where it all started for me. Those were the kitchens that formed my expectations. I thought it was going to be like that forever.’

And while talking to The Guardian that same year, the author talked about his first job as a dishwasher in the Massachusetts town.

‘I only became happy — in fact, intensely satisfied — as a dishwasher at a restaurant in Provincetown in Cape Cod, my first job.’

‘It’s a very emotional place for me,’ Bourdain said of Provincetown in an interview. ‘I came of age there in the early ’70s in a very magical, golden, naïve time that I don’t think we’ll see the likes of again’

The late star added that he had been ‘a shy, goofy, awkward teenager. But in this blue collar, factory-like environment, there was no blurred line, no grey area, no philosophical question to fret over.

‘Dishes had to go in the washer and come out taintless and doing this swiftly and competently meant I was acknowledged as a human being by colleagues I wanted to be like. The day they promoted me to dunking fries I was overjoyed.’

Anthony had also been candid about his past drug use during his youth, and he later quit heroin in the ’80s.

‘I was an unhappy soul, with a huge heroin and then crack problem,’ the chef had told The Guardian.

‘I hurt, disappointed and offended many, many, many people and I regret a lot. It’s a shame I have to live with,’ he admitted.

He later dropped out of university and graduated for the Culinary Institute of America in 1978.

The star notably worked as a chef in restaurants in New York City throughout the ’80s and ’90s. He had also been the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles beginning in 1998.

Anthony penned a number of books during his career, including as Kitchen Confidential: Adventures In The Culinary Underbelly (2000), which became a New York Times bestseller.

‘I was an unhappy soul, with a huge heroin and then crack problem,’ the chef told The Guardian; pictured in 2017 in LA

The chef had also written articles for publications such as The New Yorker — which published a popular excerpt of Kitchen Confidential before its publication — The Los Angeles Times, Esquire and The Independent.

He gained wider recognition due to his television appearances after hosting shows including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) on the Travel Channel.

The digital series Explore Parts Unknown (2017) garnered the star an Emmy win for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series.

Bourdain tragically died by suicide in France at the age of 61 while filming Parts Unknown.