Longtime Friends Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett Collaborate on New Film Exploring Midlife Crisis

In October 2025, acclaimed actor-turned-director Bradley Cooper premiered his third directorial effort, a comedy titled Is This Thing On?, at the closing night of the New York Film Festival. The film, which Cooper co-wrote with his longtime friend Will Arnett, who also stars in the lead role, is described as a love letter to New York City and the stand-up comedy scene.

Arnett plays a man on the brink of divorce after a long marriage, who finds catharsis in pursuing amateur stand-up comedy. Cooper, who met Arnett in New York City in the late 1990s when they were both struggling comedians, said the actor was the only person he could envision in the role. The two have maintained a close friendship over the decades and were excited to collaborate creatively on this project.

The New York Film Festival was thrilled to host the world premiere of Is This Thing On?, as Cooper had only recently finished shooting the film a few months prior. The festival saw an unfinished print and was immediately smitten, eager to showcase Cooper's latest directorial effort in the city that inspired it. The film also stars Laura Dern as Arnett's on-screen wife, Tess.

In his opening remarks, Cooper expressed his deep affection for New York City, where he attended graduate school in the late 1990s. He reminisced about getting lost in the West Village with his father and the magic of the city that he wanted to capture in the film. Cooper is confident that the movie will resonate with most New Yorkers, just as it did with the festival audience.