Why Anthony Bourdain’s Editor Wanted ‘Tony’ to Be Darker

A24 is producing a highly anticipated biopic titled Tony, focusing on the life of the late Anthony Bourdain. Dominic Sessa stars as the legendary chef, appearing alongside Antonio Banderas. Screenwriters Todd Bartels and Lou Howe intentionally avoided a traditional cradle-to-grave narrative, opting instead for an unconventional approach that shows rather than exhaustively tells the story. The production aims for a darker tone, steering clear of standard biographical tropes to capture Bourdain's complex essence.