Oscar-nominated filmmaker Bradley Cooper has a new movie coming soon, тιтled Is This Thing On?, which just debuted some first-look images. Cooper has been nominated for a total of 12 Oscars across the acting, writing, and Best Picture categories (in the capacity of a director or producer), and is seemingly preparing for another go at awards season.

Cooper has been close friends with comedy star Will Arnett for decades, and the two have seemingly been waiting all that time for the perfect project on which they could collaborate to appear, according to the Vanity Fair article, which released the movie’s first stills. The script for Is This Thing On? is co-written by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell (See How They Run).

Cooper calls his new movie “not a midlife crisis—it’s a midlife catharsis.” Is This Thing On? will have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on Oct. 10, 2025, before it becomes available to the public via a limited theatrical release on Dec. 19.

Is This Thing On? stars Arnett and Laura Dern as a middle-aged couple on the verge of divorce; while he finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene, she reflects on her place in their family and ponders her own future. Check out the first images from Is This Thing On? below:

What This Means For Bradley Cooper & Is This Thing On?

Because it will be a while before general moviegoers are able to see Is This Thing On?, this feature offers fairly interesting breadcrumbs hinting at what people can expect. Aside from showcasing the obvious tension Arnett and Dern will portray as their characters’ marriage falls apart, Cooper and Andra Day feature in the images, playing the leads’ respective best friends.

Cooper also teases that “The film aims to pull audiences into the subculture of the New York comedy scene.“ While the pH๏τos show some elements of production design, the actors uniquely prepared for their roles: Arnett did weeks of stand-up comedy as his Is This Thing On? character, while Dern spoke with former professional athletes (her character is a former Olympic-level volleyball player).

The behind-the-scenes stories and elaboration on the film’s plot could do a lot to get people interested in Is This Thing On?, accompanied by the valuable visuals. It sounds like a fresh and personal project, but it still has work to do in the marketing department if it wants to be a true success.

Our Take On Bradley Cooper & Will Arnett’s Is This Thing On?

While Is This Thing On? sounds like a good movie in the making, I’m still somewhat skeptical, especially given the plot’s similarities to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (and paralleling the life of comedian John Bishop) and Cooper’s track record. Namely, ScreenRant ranked Cooper’s previous movie Maestro as the worst Best Picture nominee of 2024 for being blatant Oscar bait.

Thus, Bradley Cooper still needs to prove that this movie can stand out, and it is not just an adaptation of a story that has been proven to sell. The images suggest a lovely tribute to New York comedy, which Is This Thing On? hopefully lives up to.