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 Will Arnett attempts to reinvent himself in the teaser trailer for writer-director Bradley Cooper's feature Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures releases the film in theaters Dec. 19 following its premiere at the New York Film Festival on Oct. 10. The movie stars 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 Keira Knightley Claims to Have Witnessed a Murder in Netflix's 'Woman in Cabin 10' Trailer Movies 'The Roses' Review: Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman Are Sublimely Acerbic Even if the Marital Comedy Pales Next to the Original "I think I'm getting a divorce," Arnett says from a stage in the trailer. "What tipped me off was that I'm living in an apartment on my own. And my wife and kids don't live there." 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." THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Oscars Watermelon Pictures Acquires Jordan Oscar Contender 'All That's Left of You' (Exclusive) thr news Alex Gibney's Elon Musk Documentary Lands U.S. Theatrical Distribution Venice 2025 'Orphan': Laszlo Nemes on His "Archetypal" and Very Personal Family Story of 20th Century Traumas Heat Vision Keira Knightley Claims to Have Witnessed a Murder in Netflix's 'Woman in Cabin 10' Trailer Stellan Skarsgard Oscars: Norway Picks Joachim Trier's Family Drama 'Sentimental Value' for Best Int'l Feature Race international 'KPop Demon Hunters' Sing-Along, Sean Baker-Produced 'Left-Handed Girl,' Locarno Winner Set for Busan Film Festival Oscars Watermelon Pictures Acquires Jordan Oscar Contender 'All That's Left of You' (Exclusive) thr news Alex Gibney's Elon Musk Documentary Lands U.S. Theatrical Distribution Venice 2025 'Orphan': Laszlo Nemes on His "Archetypal" and Very Personal Family Story of 20th Century Traumas Heat Vision Keira Knightley Claims to Have Witnessed a Murder in Netflix's 'Woman in Cabin 10' Trailer Stellan Skarsgard Oscars: Norway Picks Joachim Trier's Family Drama 'Sentimental Value' for Best Int'l Feature Race international 'KPop Demon Hunters' Sing-Along, Sean Baker-Produced 'Left-Handed Girl,' Locarno Winner Set for Busan Film Festival