Dominic Sessa Is on the 2026 TIME100 Next - Time Magazine

Rather than rushing through decades of Anthony Bourdain’s life in Tony, our director Matt Johnson focused on the summer of 1975, capturing a formative moment in Bourdain’s youth.

Matt picked Dominic Sessa for the role, and he was perfect for it. He captures the confidence and rebelliousness of youth while still revealing the insecurity underneath. And he never tries to imitate the famous figure Bourdain would eventually become. Instead, he portrays him as a confused, arrogant and restless young man still searching for direction, which I think is a big part of why people have connected with the film. There’s often a tendency to sugarcoat biopics but I think Tony is special because Dom wasn’t afraid to show Bourdain’s flaws and in doing so, he made him feel undeniably human. Dom has become one of my closest friends, and one of the things I love most about him is how unspoiled he is. In a world where major achievements like The Holdovers and Tony could easily change someone, his humility and kindness haven’t wavered for a second and I don’t think they ever will. I think the world of him.