Anthony Bourdain Documentary Gets Emotional First Trailer

The food industry felt a terrible shock at the unexpected loss of author, traveler and chef Anthony Bourdain. Almost three years to the date of his death, a new documentary has dropped exploring the creator’s past and tremendous influence on the food industry. “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” will debut in theaters on July 16.

Directed by Morgan Neville, the documentary explores the life of the renowned chef piecing together footage from around the world, past interviews, and current interviews with his friends, fellow chefs and closest associates.

“One minute I was standing next to a deep fryer, and the next I was watching the sun set over the Sahara,” Bourdain says in the trailer. “What am I doing here?”

Bourdain reached national prominence with his 2000 book “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” which earned him a reputation as raw and rough-around-the-edges, setting him aside from other celebrity chefs. Bourdain’s television series, including the Food Network’s “A Cook’s Tour,” the Travel Network’s “No Reservations” and CNN’s “Parts Unknown,” which spotlighted the cuisine and culture of lesser-known parts of the world, launched him into culinary stardom.

“Roadrunner” will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11. Due to the pandemic, the annual event, taking place across New York City’s five boroughs, will hold most screenings at outdoor and drive-in venues.

Following its theatrical release, “Roadrunner” will air on CNN and on the HBO Max streaming service at a later, undisclosed date.

From Focus Features, the documentary is executive produced by CNN Films and HBO Max. Neville and Caitrin Rogers served as producers through Neville’s company Tremolo Productions.

In 2014, Neville won the Academy Award for best documentary feature for “20 Feet From Stardom,” which gave a peek behind the curtains at the experiences of backup singers.

Watch the first trailer here:

Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts!

Advertisement