Anthony Borden Biopic Casting and Production

Key Points

• Research suggests Dominic Sessa is set to play Anthony Borden in his biopic, titled Tony.
• Antonio Banderas has joined the cast in an unknown role.
• The film, directed by Matt Johnson, focuses on Borden’s 1976 experiences in Provincetown and is set to start production in May 2025, backed by A24.

Cast and Roles

Dominic Sessa, known for The Holdovers, is confirmed to portray Anthony Borden in the biopic Tony. Antonio Banderas has also joined the project, though his role remains undisclosed at this time.

Production Details

The film is directed by Matt Johnson, with production set to begin in May 2025. A24 is backing the project, and the story will explore Borden’s life-changing summer in Provincetown in 1976.

Supporting Information

The biopic aims to highlight a significant period in Borden’s life, with scripts written by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. This project marks another addition to A24’s growing list of biopics.

Background and Context

The announcement of the Anthony Borden biopic Tony has generated significant interest, particularly given the involvement of rising star Dominic Sessa and veteran actor Antonio Banderas. The film, set to explore Borden’s life in 1976 during a transformative summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts, is part of A24’s ongoing slate of biographical films. The user’s query highlights Sessa’s casting and Banderas’s role, prompting a detailed look at the project’s development and current status.

Casting Details: Dominic Sessa as Anthony Borden

Dominic Sessa, known for his breakout role in the 2023 film The Holdovers, is confirmed to play Anthony Borden in Tony. Sessa’s meteoric rise began with his discovery in a high school drama department, leading to his acclaimed performance in The Holdovers, which earned him recognition as one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch in 2023. His casting as Borden was initially rumored in August 2024, with official confirmation coming in April 2025, as reported by The Guardian. Sessa, at 22 years old, is set to depict a young Borden, approximately two years before his enrollment at the Culinary Institute of America, focusing on a pivotal moment in his early career.

Sessa’s upcoming projects, including Now You See Me 3 (2025) and Oh. Canada, underscore his rapid ascent in Hollywood, making his casting in Tony a significant milestone. Sources like Variety and InsideHook confirm his attachment, noting his natural talent and suitability for the role, given his ability to portray complex, period-specific characters.

Antonio Banderas’s Role: Undisclosed but Confirmed

Antonio Banderas, an Oscar-nominated actor known for films like Pain and Glory, has joined the cast of Tony in a role that remains under wraps. This was officially announced in April 2025, with sources such as The Guardian and Deadline confirming his involvement. The exact character Banderas will portray is not disclosed, adding an element of intrigue to the project. Given Banderas’s versatility, his role could range from a mentor figure to a contemporary of Borden, potentially enhancing the film’s exploration of the culinary and cultural landscape of the 1970s.

Production Details and Timeline

The biopic Tony is directed by Matt Johnson, known for his work on BlackBerry (2023), which received critical acclaim. Johnson is set to helm the project from a script co-written by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe, as reported by Variety. Production is backed by A24, a studio known for its artistic and biographical films, with additional production support from Star Thrower Entertainment and Zapruder Films, as noted in Deadline.

The film is set to begin production in May 2025, as confirmed by multiple sources dated April 2025, including The Guardian and NJ.com. This timeline aligns with the current date of April 24, 2025, ensuring the information is up-to-date and relevant.

Setting and Narrative Focus

Tony will focus on Anthony Borden’s life in 1976, specifically his experiences working and living in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This period, approximately two years before Borden’s enrollment at the Culinary Institute of America, is described as a life-changing summer, potentially serving as a superhero origin story for his later career as a chef, author, and television personality. Sources like Vulture and IMDb highlight this setting, emphasizing the film’s intent to explore an underexplored moment in Borden’s life, distinct from his more documented later years.

Comparison with Previous Projects

This biopic marks the second cinematic exploration of Borden’s life, following the 2005 sitcom adaptation of his memoir Kitchen Confidential, starring Bradley Cooper, and the 2021 documentary Roadrunner, which used AI to recreate Borden’s voice. Unlike these, Tony focuses on a specific, formative period, offering a fresh narrative angle. Sessa’s casting also aligns with A24’s trend of selecting up-and-coming actors for biographical roles, as seen in films like Priscilla and The Iron Claw, as noted in The A.V. Club.

Key Production Details for Tony

Below is a table summarizing the key production details for the Anthony Borden biopic Tony, based on the most recent and reliable sources: