The Empire Film Podcast We've Started So We'll Finish (ft. guests Bradley Cooper & Will Arnett)
Jan 30, 2026
Will Arnett, Canadian-American actor and comedian who co-wrote and stars in the film, and Bradley Cooper, American actor and filmmaker who directed and co-wrote it, join to discuss their 27-year friendship and how it shaped the project. They talk about prepping real stand-up, recreating authentic club energy, sound mixing choices, staging the opening beat, and how vulnerability informs the story.
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Finish Planned Trilogies For Long-Tail Value
- James Dyer argued studios should finish planned trilogies because a complete set increases long-tail value across streaming and physical media.
- He warned cancelling middle projects wastes the narrative and future revenue potential of an intended trilogy.
Friendship Sparked The Film's Fast Green Light
- Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper met as friends and Bradley unexpectedly offered to direct Will's script after reading it during a break from Maestro.
- Their prior friendship and Bradley's industry stature accelerated studio interest and green-lit the film quickly.
Relationships, Not Gimmicks, Drive Cooper's Films
- Bradley Cooper's films share a through-line: human connection and nuanced relationships drive the story, not spectacle.
- He used that focus to reshape the script from a John Bishop origin into a character-driven relationship drama.
