Washington [US], February 15: Oscar nominee Andra Day has been added to the cast of Bradley Cooper’s upcoming film Is This Thing On?, where Cooper is set to direct. The Searchlight movie also stars Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Laura Dern, with Cooper playing a supporting role.
Is This Thing On? follows Alex (Arnett), a man navigating middle age and an impending divorce. As his marriage quietly unravels, Alex looks for new meaning in the New York comedy scene, while Tess (Dern) grapples with the sacrifices she made for their family. The story explores themes of co-parenting, identity, and whether love can evolve into something new.
Andra Day, who made her acting debut in Lee Daniels’ 2021 biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday where she played the title role, received critical acclaim for her performance, winning a Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress, a Grammy for Best Soundtrack, and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Following that success, Day appeared in Exhibiting Forgiveness and The Deliverance, both films by Titus Kaphar. She also starred in Marshall, directed by Reginald Hudlin. Day is also set to appear in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, where she will play Athena.
Cooper and Weston Middleton will produce Is This Thing On? under their Lea Pictures banner, along with Arnett and Kris Thykier. John Bishop will serve as an executive producer. The project is being overseen by Searchlight’s director of development and production, Peter Spencer, and creative executive Cornelia Burleigh, reporting to heads of production and development Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen.
In a recent preview, Cooper shared his enthusiasm for the project, noting the similarities between filmmaking and sports, particularly football. “Filmmaking truly, honestly is very similar to sports — team sports,” Cooper said. “If one of the 11 messes up, the whole thing’s screwing up. Same thing in a movie set.”