Late chef and TV icon Anthony Bourdain is set to have his life turned into a brand new biopic, according to reports, although not all of his fans are best pleased, having point out what they think is a huge oversight.
Bourdain, who died in 2018 at the age of 61, had risen to fame almost overnight after the released of his best-selling memoir, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, which documented the not-so-glamorous reality behind working in the kitchens of New York City throughout the 1980s and 90s.
But he became widely celebrated for his later TV work, which tapped into his passion for uncovering some of the world's best and most unlikely food hotspots as Bourdain travelled everywhere from Myanmar and Morocco to Beirut and Bhutan in his search of interesting flavours - and even more interesting folk.
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According to Deadline, the celebrity chef’s rich life will now transformed into a new biopic, with source telling the outlet that A24 is in negotiations to acquire the movie, which will be titled Tony.
Dominic Sessa, fresh from his breakout role in Oscar-winning drama The Holdovers, is set to star as Bourdain, while Matt Johnson will direct from a script written by Lou Howe and Todd Bartels.
While it is not known what point in Bourdain’s life the film will focus on, there is some speculation that, due to 21-year-old Sessa’s age, it could tap into his earlier career and rise to fame.
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But while some fans were thrilled by news of the new project, which follows 2021 documentary Roadrunner, others weren’t quite so sold on the idea as they pointed out one huge issue.
“Do we really need an Anthony Bourdain biopic when 4000 episodes of reality tv exist where Antony Bourdain is being himself,” one tweeted, adding: “I say this as a huge Bourdain fan. Nobody needs this movie.”
While someone else said it was a ‘great point’, another agreed: “What we need is a 90-minute TONY SUPERCUT from all of the footage already shot.”
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A third said: “This is a good take on biopics in my opinion. some are wanted more than others - but filmmakers really need to figure out ‘why’ they are making their film.”
Another added: “Anthony Bourdain would hate a biopic. He would spit on the ground after hear that idea, and walk away.”
While one fan concluded that ‘nobody needs this’, they did offer up some diplomacy by suggesting it may well cover a period less documented on screen thus far.
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“Going by the age of the actor, I suspect they'd cover the 'young Tony', not 'post Kitchen Confidential' Tony,” they theorised, as another chipped in: “The notion that Bourdain’s life could be summarized by watching No Reservations or Parts Unknown is silly. I don’t have strong opinions about the biopic, but the fact that he did docuseries on restaurants doesn’t quash the need for a story of his life beyond those shows.”
Sticking up for those reported to be behind the project, another offered: "Yeah not too fond of biopics but Matt Johnson did a great job with Blackberry. So I'm sure he has an interesting take on this."
LADbible Group has reached out to Star Thrower, the production company believed to be behind the project, for comment.
Topics: TV And Film, Celebrity, Food and Drink
Jess Hardiman