Bradley Cooper’s Comedy ‘Is This Thing On?’ Trailer Released

LOS ANGELES — A new trailer for Searchlight Pictures‘ film “Is This Thing On?” was released today, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. The dramedy, directed by Bradley Cooper, will premiere in select theaters on December 19.

The film follows Alex (played by Arnett), who faces the challenges of a midlife crisis and an impending divorce from his wife, Tess (Dern). As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex seeks purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess confronts the sacrifices she made for their family.

Cooper, who also stars in the film, expressed his excitement, stating, “NYC injects an energy into every aspect of filmmaking that just can’t be replicated.” He further described the movie as a “midlife catharsis” rather than a typical midlife crisis.

The cast includes notable figures such as Andra Day, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, and Scott Icenogle. The film is produced by Weston Middleton, Kris Thykier, Cooper, and Arnett, with a screenplay co-written by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell.

Inspired by British comic John Bishop, who also serves as executive producer, “Is This Thing On?” represents Cooper’s third directorial effort following his 2023 biopic “Maestro” and his 2018 debut “A Star Is Born.” The world premiere will take place on October 10 at Lincoln Center‘s Alice Tully Hall as the closing-night film of the New York Film Festival.

As anticipation builds, audiences are eager to see how the story unfolds when it hits theaters.