Oscar nominee Andra Day is stepping back onto the big screen — this time in Bradley Cooper’s upcoming feature Is This Thing On?
Directed by Cooper for Searchlight Pictures, the film also stars Laura Dern, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes with Cooper, who’s also producing the film under his Lea Pictures banner, taking on a supporting role and, in a first, will also serve as the B camera operator on set.
Written by Arnett and Mark Chappell, Is This Thing On? is described as a dramedy centered around Alex (played by Arnett), a man staring down middle age and divorce, and Tess (Dern), who is coming to terms with the sacrifices she’s made for her family. As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex seeks a new lease on life in the New York comedy scene, while Tess confronts what comes next. Together, they navigate co-parenting, identity, and the possibility that love may take a new form.
Details on who Day will play are still under wraps, but her casting adds another layer of depth to a film already loaded with emotional nuance and star power.
Day made an unforgettable acting debut as Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, directed by Lee Daniels — a role that earned her a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She’s since worked with Daniels again in Netflix’s The Deliverance, starred in Exhibiting Forgiveness from artist-filmmaker Titus Kaphar, and appeared in Reginald Hudlin’s Marshall.
Up next, she’ll appear as the goddess Athena in season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
In addition to Cooper, producers on Is This Thing On? include Weston Middleton, Arnett, and Kris Thykier, with John Bishop serving as executive producer. The project is being overseen by Peter Spencer and Cornelia Burleigh for Searchlight, reporting to production heads Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen.
Cooper recently previewed the film on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, using the moment to reflect on the collaborative nature of filmmaking — likening it to football. “It’s very, very similar to football in particular,” he said. “If one of the 11 messes up, the whole thing’s screwing up. Same thing on a movie set.”
No release date has been set, but with this lineup, Is This Thing On? is definitely one to keep on your radar.