Bradley Cooper Made Laura Dern Play Against Professional Volleyball Players for Is This Thing On?
Bradley Cooper explains why authenticity sometimes means pushing actors beyond comfort.
Laura Dern plays Tess, a former professional volleyball player who once competed at the Olympics, in Bradley Cooper’s comedy-drama Is This Thing On?, and Cooper had her play against real professional players for the role. She told the story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2026. In the UK the film is now streaming on Disney+. Below you will find the interview, the film’s story and cast, and the answers to what people search for most.
Is This Thing On? at a glance
| Genre | Comedy-drama, described as a comedy of remarriage |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bradley Cooper |
| Written by | Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell |
| Inspired by | The life of English comedian John Bishop, who has a story credit |
| Premiere | Closing film of the New York Film Festival, 10 October 2025 |
| US release | 19 December 2025, by Searchlight Pictures |
| Running time | About 2 hours |
| Where to watch in the UK | Disney+; rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Rakuten TV and Sky Store |
Why volleyball?
In the film, Tess was a professional volleyball player whose career peaked at the Olympic Games. After her marriage to Alex ends, she thinks about returning to the sport as a coach and is offered the job of assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team for the 2028 Summer Olympics. To make that past believable on screen, Cooper put Dern on court against professional players, which is the anecdote she shares with Fallon.
What else Laura Dern talks about
- Oscars history with her mother: in 1992 Dern and her mother, Diane Ladd, became the first mother and daughter nominated for acting Oscars for the same film, Rambling Rose.
- Palm Royale: the Apple TV series she stars in and produces, working alongside Kristen Wiig and Carol Burnett.
- Being directed by Bradley Cooper on Is This Thing On?
What is Is This Thing On? about?
Alex and Tess have ended their long marriage amicably and are working out how to live apart while raising their two boys. Alex stumbles into an open mic night at New York’s Comedy Cellar, starts doing stand-up and talks about the marriage on stage. When Tess hears one of his sets, the two have to face what they still feel for each other.
Who is in the cast?
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Will Arnett | Alex Novak |
| Laura Dern | Tess Novak |
| Bradley Cooper | Balls |
| Andra Day | Christine |
| Ciarán Hinds | Jan, Alex’s father |
| Amy Sedaris | Kemp |
| Sean Hayes | Stephen |
| Christine Ebersole | Marilyn |
Critics liked it: on Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 204 reviews are positive, with Arnett, Dern and Cooper’s direction singled out.
How to watch Is This Thing On? in the UK
- Stream: included with Disney+.
- Rent or buy: Apple TV, Amazon, Rakuten TV and Sky Store.
- The interview: free on YouTube and embedded above.
Questions people ask about Laura Dern and volleyball
Did Laura Dern play volleyball in Is This Thing On?
Yes. Her character, Tess, is a former Olympic volleyball player, and Bradley Cooper had Dern play against professional players for the part.
Did Laura Dern play volleyball in real life?
The professional volleyball career belongs to her character. Dern herself has been acting since childhood, and her own career is in film and television.
Who does Laura Dern play in Is This Thing On?
Tess Novak, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Will Arnett’s Alex.
Is Is This Thing On? a true story?
Loosely. It was inspired by the night English comedian John Bishop decided to become a stand-up, which he told Will Arnett about.
Where can I watch Is This Thing On? in the UK?
On Disney+, or to rent or buy from Apple TV, Amazon, Rakuten TV and Sky Store.
More on Hollywood Box
- The co-writer and star: Will Arnett on his new film with Bradley Cooper
- Cooper on directing: Guillermo del Toro and Bradley Cooper, Directors on Directors
- Cooper in comedy: Bradley Cooper as the first Gemstone
- Dern’s series: Palm Royale and more on Apple TV
Sources
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on YouTube (the interview and its description)
- Wikipedia: Is This Thing On? (story, production, release, reviews)
- Wikipedia: Laura Dern (career, Rambling Rose, Palm Royale)
- TMDB: Is This Thing On? (cast, running time, UK availability)
Updated 6 October 2026 by the Hollywood Box team.
