Watch the Trailer for “Roadrunner,” a New Documentary About Anthony Bourdain

published Jun 3, 2021
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Anthony Bourdain’s voice rings out from the trailer for Roadrunner, the new documentary centered around the late chef from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, whose recent work includes the Mister Rogers documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Bourdain’s distinctive cadence and the familiar words — from his extensive library of television shows, speaking tours, and publicity — feel different under Neville’s direction. The clips of Bourdain speaking about happiness, work, travel, and meaning carry new weight when seen in retrospect.

Filled with clips from Bourdain’s work and insights from those who knew him — including Eric Ripert and David Chang — Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain explores how the chef, writer, and media personality saw the world, how it saw him, and how that changed through the years. 

“It was almost never about the food,” Chang says in the trailer. “It was about Tony learning to be a better person.” While that first sentiment might be old news for big Bourdain fans, the second part offers an invitation from the film — for the viewer to lean in and buckle up for the parts that weren’t part of the public face Bourdain showed the world. 

The movie comes from Focus Features, with Neville as director and sharing producer credits with Cait Rogers (the pair previously worked together on 20 Feet from Stardom). It’s slated to come out on July 16, 2021, and so far just says that it will hit theaters, so no word on if it will simultaneously release to any streaming platforms. However, for anyone who can’t wait that long to watch, it will be a part of the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, premiering on June 11 and joining the Tribeca at Home program (which costs just $15) June 12-23.