Bradley Cooper‘s next feature directorial effort, “Is This Thing On?” is heading to theaters next month, and the studio has dropped the latest trailer for the dramedy that focuses on a NYC man on the cusp of divorce and staring down a midlife crisis who decides out of the blue to seek a newfound life in the world of stand-up comedy (with real journeymen stand-ups appearing in the film) with Will Arnett and Laura Dern playing the couple at the heart of the story.
Others among the cast include Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, and Scott Icenogle. As Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell penned the comedic drama’s script, with Arnett, Chappell, and John Bishop putting the story together.
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An official logline for the latest Cooper-directed pic courtesy of Searchlight Pictures:
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family—forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
The film’s producers feature Cooper, Arnett, Weston Middleton, and Kris Thykier. Cooper’s previous films he’s helmed include the acclaimed remake of “A Star Is Born,” which saw him co-starring with Lady Gaga (who ended up winning an Oscar statue for Best Original Song), and also directed himself in the Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro” back in 2023.
You can watch the new trailer for “Is This Thing On?” below, as the film hits select theaters on December 19, and feel free to read The Playlist’s review of the film from last month right here.

Christopher Marc is lead writer at The Playlist and the primary engine behind our daily news coverage. Chris is based in Canada and tracks everything from Marvel and Star Wars developments to arthouse acquisitions and festival buzz with equal enthusiasm and an instinct for the story readers actually want to read.
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