Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?' to Close 2025 New York Film Festival
Courtesy of Film at Lincoln Center
Cooper's third feature, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, will make its world premiere at NYFF63.
Bradley Cooper is headed back to the New York Film Festival. Film at Lincoln Center announced today that Cooper's new feature Is This Thing On? will officially close the 63rd New York Film Festival with its world premiere on Friday, October 10 at Alice Tully Hall.
Following his critically acclaimed work on A Star Is Born and Maestro, Cooper's third feature is a comic drama about midlife reinvention, co-starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a couple whose amicable separation sets off an unexpected emotional journey. Cooper also co-wrote the screenplay with Arnett and Mark Chappell, drawing inspiration from the real-life story of British stand-up comic John Bishop.
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s downtown comedy scene, the film follows Arnett’s character, Alex Novak, as he attempts to transform his life by becoming a stand-up comic following his separation from Tess (Dern). The story delicately navigates themes of family, regret, self-discovery, and personal growth, with Cooper lending his signature naturalistic direction to performances that are both funny and emotionally resonant.
"We are honored and humbled to premiere our film at the New York Film Festival," Cooper said in a statement. "Earlier this year we had the wonderful opportunity to shoot this story all throughout the city, so it’s very exciting to debut it on the closing evening of the festival."
POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP
The film boasts a standout supporting cast, including Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ciarán Hinds, Andra Day, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris, Christine Ebersole, and cameos from real-life New York comedians Chloe Radcliffe, Reggie Conquest, and Jordan Jensen. Peyton Manning also makes an appearance.
Dennis Lim, NYFF Artistic Director, praised the film as "a fond tribute to New York City’s comedy scene, a sensitive study of midlife discontent, and a modern-day comedy of remarriage, pitch-perfect in its balance of humor and feeling."
A Searchlight Pictures release, Is This Thing On? is produced by Cooper's Lea Pictures and Archery Pictures. Passes are now available, with general public tickets for the Closing Night premiere going on sale September 18 at noon ET. Pre-sale access will be granted to Film at Lincoln Center members and pass holders.
