Bradley Cooper's ‘Is This Thing On?' to Close 63rd New York Film Festival

Surprise!

Bradley Cooper’s third directorial effort, “Is This Thing On?,” has been selected as the Closing Night film of the 63rd New York Film Festival. The dramatic comedy will screen on October 10 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.

The film, which recently test screened, is still being shaped in the editing room. Cooper is actively fine-tuning the cut, with much of the scoring, sound design, and color correction yet to be finalized. The version shown to audiences during the test screening was described as a “work in progress.”

Inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop, “Is This Thing On?” stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a married couple on the brink of separation while raising two children. Arnett’s character, Alex, makes a late-in-life pivot into stand-up comedy in New York City’s West Village. A newly released first-look image shows Arnett’s Alex inside a small comedy club.

Searchlight Pictures is behind the film, though no theatrical release date has been set yet — a move that likely reflects Cooper’s ongoing post-production process. The supporting cast includes Andra Day, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Hayes, Peyton Manning, and Amy Sedaris.

NYFF Artistic Director Dennis Lim added: “We are thrilled to close the festival with Bradley Cooper’s delightful third feature. Is This Thing On? is a film of many dimensions and surprises: 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.”

The film follows Cooper’s previous directing efforts, “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro,” both of which debuted on the fall festival circuit. NYFF opens on September 26 with Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt.” Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother will serve as the festival’s Centerpiece. The full lineup is set to be announced in the coming weeks.