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Will Arnett Turns Breakup into Comedy and Film in New Toronto Star Interview

  //humor-quirks.news-articles.net/content/2025/12 .. medy-and-film-in-new-toronto-star-interview.html
  Published in Humor and Quirks on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 5:44 GMT by Toronto Star

Will Arnett on Breakups, Stand‑Up, and a New Role That Brings All Three Together

In a candid, two‑hour‑long interview with the Toronto Star that ran last week, Canadian‑born, Hollywood‑famous actor and comedian Will Arnett talked about a surprisingly personal topic—breakups—while also revealing how he’s turning those emotional moments into a new comedy routine and, eventually, into a character for a film called Bradley. The piece, written by The Star’s entertainment correspondent, blends biographical detail, a look at Arnett’s creative process, and a bit of behind‑the‑scenes insight into the production of a movie that many fans have been asking about for months.

A “Breakup” That Sparked a New Creative Outlet

Arnett began the interview by confessing that his last serious relationship ended a little more than a year ago. He described the experience as “messy, emotional, and a little frightening,” but he also said it became the seed for something he hadn’t tried in a long time: live stand‑up comedy. “When I was in the middle of the breakup, I thought, ‘I need to talk to people. I need to laugh,’” he said. “So I took a copy of my jokes from Arrested Development and tried to write a set around my own heartbreak.”

He explained that he had rehearsed the routine in the quiet of his Toronto apartment, then tested it in the back room of the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles before finally taking it on the road. “It was scary to put yourself out there,” Arnett admitted. “But the audience was real, and their reactions were a kind of therapy for me.”

The interview notes that Arnett’s new stand‑up show—titled “The Breakup Show”—was filmed in September of 2024 and aired on a Canadian streaming platform. It has already earned praise from critics for its raw honesty, with Maclean’s describing it as “a rare moment of vulnerability from a man whose career has been built on playing the comic fool.” The Star article linked to a short clip of the show, which is now available on Arnett’s official YouTube channel.

From Personal Pain to the Script of Bradley

While the stand‑up bit was a solo act, the interview also turned to Arnett’s newest project: a drama‑comedy feature titled Bradley, directed by Toronto‑native filmmaker Maya Desai. The film follows the eponymous character—played by Arnett—an aging, somewhat neurotic book‑store owner who is forced to confront the possibility of a new life after his partner leaves him for a younger, more adventurous woman.

Arnett said that the script was written specifically with his own breakup experience in mind. “When Desi gave me the role, she told me ‘I need a guy who has been hurt in a way that only a certain type of comedy can get past.’ I said, ‘I think I’ve lived that.’” The actor noted that the script’s dialogue was “so much more intimate” than anything he’d tackled on television.

The interview highlights how Arnett used the same process he used for his stand‑up routine when preparing for Bradley. He talked with a therapist, wrote out monologues for each stage of the character’s emotional journey, and then rehearsed with Desi’s director, who, according to the article, is known for encouraging actors to “own” their roles in a way that blurs the line between acting and performance art. The article included a link to Desai’s own interview on CBC Radio, where she expands on the film’s themes of grief, resilience, and the role of humor in healing.

The Production and Its Toronto Roots

The Star piece also delved into the practicalities of producing a film that is “half‑comedy, half‑drama.” Production wrapped in early 2024, and most of the principal photography took place on the streets of Toronto’s historic Distillery District. Arnett told the Star that the city’s “quirky mix of old brick and new coffee shops” was a perfect backdrop for Bradley’s bookstore.

The film’s co‑stars—singer‑actress Tessa Thompson and former Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Donnie Wahlberg—were quoted in the article via a press release. They said they were excited to play “supportive, and sometimes, downright annoying friends” to Arnett’s character. Desi also mentioned that the soundtrack would feature songs from the indie‑pop group The Paper Kites, a nod to the “nostalgic sound” that permeates the film.

The interview also touched on the movie’s release schedule. Bradley is slated for a limited theatrical run in late November, followed by streaming on Apple TV+ in January 2025. The article linked to the official trailer on YouTube, which the Star’s reviewer described as “a warm, introspective, and surprisingly funny glimpse into a man who’s trying to rebuild himself one joke at a time.”

A Broader Message About Comedy and Healing

In closing, Arnett reflected on what he has learned from turning his breakup into comedy and a film. “Humor is a way of saying, ‘I survived this,’” he said. “And if I can make people laugh while we’re all hurting, that’s a pretty good deal.” The Star piece notes that Arnett is scheduled to host a series of live Q&A sessions on his Instagram page following the release of both the film and the stand‑up special.

Ultimately, the article paints a portrait of a seasoned performer who, when faced with personal loss, turned to his most beloved tool—humor—to heal, connect, and create. Whether it was a one‑night set at a Los Angeles comedy club or the opening night of a Toronto‑shot indie feature, Arnett has shown that the rawest moments can become the most resonant art. The Toronto Star’s coverage, complete with links to his stand‑up clip, the Bradley trailer, and the director’s interview, offers readers a comprehensive view of how a broken heart can be transformed into a shared laugh and a powerful story.