A bright light was extinguished when chef, travel documentarian and king of the one-liners, Anthony Bourdain, passed away in France in June 2018. Fans will be delighted to hear that a new documentary film will be made to celebrate the life of the exuberant 61-year-old from New York.
Bourdain died through suicide while filming his popular CNN series, 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,' which usually saw him taking the road less travelled, while introducing viewers to local chefs, exploring different restaurants and sampling unusual dishes. This forthcoming film will be first released exclusively in film theatres worldwide before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via HBO Max.
It will be released as a collaboration by CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features, and directed and produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Morgan Neville. “Anthony Bourdain did more to help us understand each other than just about anyone in the history of television," says Morgan Neville. "He connected with people not in spite of his flaws, but because of them. To have the opportunity to tell his story is humbling."
The Bourdain estate will provide access to family photos, home movies, letters, music, and other content that will add greater insights into his work and life. Lydia Tenaglia and Christopher Collins, founders of Zero Point Zero Production and creative collaborators with Bourdain for nearly two decades will be consulting producers for the film, as will Kimberly Witherspoon, his longtime agent and literary executor.
“Having worked with Anthony Bourdain for close to 20 years, Chris Collins and I felt very protective over the story of his life and the decision on who to direct it," says Lydia Tenaglia. "In Morgan Neville’s hands, we are sure to get a nuanced portrait of the complex, wildly creative man we knew."
