Bradley Cooper (left) and Will Arnett in 'Is This Thing On?' Courtesy of Searchlight Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Bradley Cooper's forthcoming feature Is This Thing On? has landed a prime holiday season release date from Searchlight Pictures. The film hits theaters Dec. 19 following its premiere at the New York Film Festival on Oct. 10. The movie stars Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Cooper, Andra Day, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris and Ciarán Hinds. Is This Thing On? centers on Alex (Arnett) and Tess (Dern), who attempt to navigate their divorce as Alex changes his career path to pursue a life as a confessional stand-up comedian in New York City. The life of British comedian John Bishop inspired the movie's story. Related Stories Movies Austin Butler Credits Tom Hardy and Laura Dern for Helping Him Pull Away From Method Acting Lifestyle YES Scholars Confirms Ted Sarandos, Nicole Avant, Shaboozey and Will Arnett for Milestone Gala Cooper helmed the feature from a script he co-wrote with Arnett and Mark Chappell. Producers include Cooper, Arnett, Weston Middleton and Kris Thykier. Is This Thing On? marks Cooper's directorial follow-up to 2023's Maestro, which he also co-wrote and starred in as conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. The Netflix feature's seven Oscar nominations included nods for Cooper's acting and screenplay, in addition to best picture. Cooper, who had a cameo in this summer's Superman for his Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, made his directorial debut with 2018's A Star Is Born. Arnett's recent credits include Next Goal Wins and a voice role in the series Twisted Metal. Dern can be seen alongside George Clooney and Adam Sandler in director Noah Baumbach's forthcoming Netflix film Jay Kelly. "This movie is not a midlife crisis - it's a midlife catharsis," Cooper told Vanity Fair about Is This Thing On? "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." Vanity Fair was first to report on the release date. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Marc Platt Blake Lively Teams With Marc Platt for Action Rom-Com 'The Survival List' at Lionsgate (Exclusive) Laura Dern Austin Butler Credits Tom Hardy and Laura Dern for Helping Him Pull Away From Method Acting Thomasin McKenzie Bleecker Street Nabs Period Horror Thriller 'Victorian Psycho' Dr. Seuss Bill Hader's 'The Cat in the Hat' Lands New November 2026 Release Date The White Lotus 'Eugene the Marine' With Scott Glenn to Open Oldenburg Film Festival Heat Vision Karen Gillan Joins Henry Cavill in 'Highlander' Remake (Exclusive) Marc Platt Blake Lively Teams With Marc Platt for Action Rom-Com 'The Survival List' at Lionsgate (Exclusive) Laura Dern Austin Butler Credits Tom Hardy and Laura Dern for Helping Him Pull Away From Method Acting Thomasin McKenzie Bleecker Street Nabs Period Horror Thriller 'Victorian Psycho' Dr. Seuss Bill Hader's 'The Cat in the Hat' Lands New November 2026 Release Date The White Lotus 'Eugene the Marine' With Scott Glenn to Open Oldenburg Film Festival Heat Vision Karen Gillan Joins Henry Cavill in 'Highlander' Remake (Exclusive)