Bradley Cooper Taps Will Arnett, Laura Dern for New Film

Searchlight Pictures has released the latest trailer for Is This Thing On?, the upcoming comedy directed by Bradley Cooper.

The film stars Will Arnett as Alex, a man facing middle age and divorce who seeks a new purpose in the New York comedy scene. Laura Dern co-stars as his wife, Tess, who is forced to confront the sacrifices she made for their family. As their marriage unravels, the two must navigate the challenges of co-parenting, personal identity, and whether their love can evolve into a new form.

Set for a December 19 release, the film will have its world premiere as the closing-night selection of the New York Film Festival on October 10. Cooper, who noted that the city serves as the film’s backdrop, said the creative team is “honored and humbled” by the selection. “NYC injects an energy into every aspect of filmmaking that just can’t be replicated,” he added.

The ensemble cast also includes Cooper, Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, and Scott Icenogle. Arnett and Cooper not only star but also co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Chappell and served as producers alongside Weston Middleton and Kris Thykier. The story was inspired by British comedian John Bishop, who is an executive producer.

Is This Thing On? marks Cooper’s third directorial effort, following the 2023 biopic Maestro and his 2018 debut, A Star Is Born.

“This movie is not a midlife crisis — it’s a midlife catharsis,” Cooper told Vanity Fair. “Sometimes you realize you’re coasting and you’ve lost your rudder and your North Star in life, and that takes a toll on whoever is in your orbit.”

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