{"id":89865,"date":"2025-08-22T23:30:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T23:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/89865\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T23:30:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T23:30:03","slug":"bradley-coopers-is-this-thing-on-cast-release-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/89865\/","title":{"rendered":"Bradley Cooper\u2019s \u2018Is This Thing On?:\u2019 Cast, Release Date"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n Har har!
\n Photo: Jason McDonald\/Searchlight Pictures\n <\/p>\n

Bradley Cooper directed a movie about humongous pop stars followed by one movie about an iconic classical musician. What\u2019s next? Middling stand-up comedy, of course. His upcoming film, Is This Thing On?, sounds like Marriage Story<\/a> meets Lenny<\/a> \u2014 if the artists depicted in both those movies were approximately 60 percent less talented. Will Arnett stars as a middle-aged man who starts performing stand-up comedy to process his divorce. Arnett came up with the idea after meeting British comedian John Bishop at a party and hearing his real-life divorce story, per Vanity Fair<\/a>. He then took the idea to his longtime friend Cooper (they met through Cooper\u2019s Wet Hot American Summer<\/a> co-star and Arnett\u2019s ex-wife, Amy Poehler), while he was in production on Maestro<\/a>, and Cooper agreed to co-write and direct the film. The result? A hopefully great movie about just-okay stand-up during a midlife crisis. Below, find everything we know so far about the upcoming movie that Cooper calls \u201cmidlife catharsis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Searchlight Pictures released the film\u2019s first images on August 21. The film follows a couple from the beginning of their divorce as Alex (Arnett) turns to stand-up comedy to release his pent-up feelings. In the photo release, there are multiple shots of the primary couple arguing, a picture of Arnett onstage, and one photo in which you can see behind the scenes, with director Cooper in the shot as well, operating a camera. It was Cooper\u2019s first time as a director also working as a camera operator.<\/p>\n

Here’s a first look at Bradley Cooper’s IS THIS THING ON? starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Premiering at #NYFF63<\/a>, in select theaters December 19th. #IsThisThingOn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pEJRzBSeGt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Searchlight Pictures (@searchlightpics) August 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Bradley Cooper’s IS THIS THING ON? starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Premiering at #NYFF63<\/a>, in select theaters December 19th. #IsThisThingOn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZkECTuqpw8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Searchlight Pictures (@searchlightpics) August 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The movie stars Will Arnett as the comedian divorcee, Alex, and Laura Dern as his soon-to-be-ex wife, a former Olympic-level volleyball player named Tess. Notably, Alex is not that good at comedy \u2014 the point of the art form in the movie is that stand-up still gives Alex a space to process what he\u2019s never processed before. \u201cWill\u2019s the funniest guy you\u2019ll ever meet in a room,\u201d Cooper told Vanity Fair. \u201cAnd for him to play a guy who\u2019s not really good at stand-up and just sort of working his way, that was incredible to behold.\u201d<\/p>\n

And just because Cooper\u2019s directing the film doesn\u2019t mean he can\u2019t still be in it. He\u2019ll play Alex\u2019s best friend Arnie, and in the first-look images, he can be seen in character with a very Jackson Maine\u2013esque hat. Tess\u2019s best friend, Christine, meanwhile, will be played by Oscar nominee Andra Day. Other people reported to be featured in the film in yet-unnamed roles include Amy Sedaris, Arnett\u2019s Smartless co-host Sean Hayes, Ciar\u00e1n Hines, and Peyton Manning.<\/p>\n

Is This Thing On? will premiere at the New York Film Festival<\/a> as the fest\u2019s Closing Night feature on October 10. Notably, the movie just finished filming four months ago, and Cooper is currently racing to edit it in time for the premiere. Those who can\u2019t make it to New York for that will be able to see the movie when it is released in theaters on December 19. And BCoops, if you\u2019re reading this, get back to work!<\/p>\n

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