Will Arnett stumbles into stand-up comedy in the first trailer for Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On?. Directed by Cooper, who co-wrote the script with Arnett and Mark Chappell (See How They Run), the upcoming comedy film is based on the life of British comedian John Bishop, who, after separating from his wife, attended an open mic which kick-started his comedy career and saved his marriage.

Seven-time Emmy nominee Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock, BoJack Horseman) leads the cast alongside Oscar winner Laura Dern (Marriage Story) with Bradley Cooper, Oscar nominee Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Emmy winner Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Emmy nominee Amy Sedaris, Oscar nominee Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Chloe Radcliffe, and Peyton Manning in supporting roles.

Now, Searchlight Pictures has premiered the first official teaser trailer for Is This Thing On? It begins with Alex (Will Arnett), facing middle age and an impending divorce, as he attends an open mic night at a New York comedy club and performs surprisingly well, making jokes about his marital situation.

Meanwhile, his wife Tess (Laura Dern) reckons with the compromises she has made for their family, pushing them both to confront issues involving co-parenting, self-discovery, and the possibility of their love evolving into something new. Check out the trailer below:

What This Means For Is This Thing On?

Is This Thing On? is the third movie that Bradley Cooper has directed and starred in, after A Star Is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023), which earned a total of 15 Oscar nominations combined, including Cooper receiving two nods for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, this time, Cooper is taking on a supporting role​​​​, playing Alex’s best friend, Arnie.

With Is This Thing On?, Cooper could earn additional Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, and possibly his first for Best Director. Is This Thing On? seems guaranteed to garner some Oscar buzz for its performances, given the presence of prior nominees, including not only Cooper, but also Laura Dern, Andra Day, and Ciarán Hinds.

Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Amy Sedaris have all been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, and they are looking for their first Oscar nods. Is This Thing On? will premiere as the closing film of the New York Film Festival on October 10, where it will have the chance to earn some early buzz ahead of its theatrical release on December 19.

Our Take On Is This Thing On?

After Maestro was accused of being blatant Oscar bait, Is This Thing On? seems like a suitable follow-up for Cooper, which shouldn’t have that same problem. The film feels more grounded in everyday struggles, with its humor and heart coming from a more ordinary midlife crisis, and not grandiosity. Cooper’s latest efforts look looser, funnier, and far less Oscar-baity.