Will Arnett Reveals His Most Memorable On-Screen Role

After three decades in the acting game, you’d reckon most blokes would be chuffed to land a Golden Globe nod. For Will Arnett, though, that recognition came not for a blockbuster film or a hit TV show, but for a podcast he co-hosts with his ex, Amy Poehler, and Jason Bateman. The show, SmartLess, has become a bit of a cult favourite, and Arnett’s clearly proud of it. Still, he’s also been copping plenty of praise for his latest big-screen turn, leading Bradley Cooper’s new film, Is This Thing On?

In this drama, Arnett plays a dad down on his luck, fresh out of a marriage, who tries his hand at stand-up comedy to get by. He and Cooper go way back, having first crossed paths through Poehler in the early 2000s. The film’s been getting solid reviews, with punters and critics alike giving Arnett’s performance a big tick, and Cooper’s direction hasn’t gone unnoticed either.

Comedy Roots and Animated Hits

Arnett’s no stranger to the comedy scene, having spent the past twenty years making a name for himself in both film and telly. He’s carved out a niche in family flicks that end up being just as much fun for adults as for kids. Take Ratatouille from 2007, for example—many reckon it’s Pixar’s best, even outshining Wall-E. Then there’s his voice work in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, a 2022 release that brought together the creative minds behind Lonely Island, including Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer.

But it’s his turn as the caped crusader in The Lego Movie series that Arnett singles out as his personal favourite. That’s saying something, considering he’s also been a lead in cult classics like Bojack Horseman and Arrested Development. Reflecting on his career, Arnett shared,

“I have never ranked my own roles before, but it feels right to place these three films at No 1. I did not realise what an impact Batman was going to have on my life. The character comes loaded with a bunch of preconceived notions, because he is Batman. He is a superhero with no super powers, so he has got to be quite confident. He’s an orphan and an only child, with incredible financial resources to do whatever he wants, and that has got to make him quite selfish. I liked the idea that he does not know how to be part of a team.”

The Lego Batman Phenomenon

The first Lego Movie, which also featured Will Ferrell, Chris Pratt, and Elizabeth Banks, was a surprise smash, pulling in nearly half a billion dollars at the box office and nabbing an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song with ‘Everything is Awesome’. That success paved the way for a Batman-focused spin-off, with Arnett front and centre, joined by Zach Galifianakis and Michael Cera. The spin-off was another hit, raking in $312 million on an $80 million budget.

Arnett found plenty to dig into with his animated alter ego.

“It was fun taking things further in The Lego Batman Movie, to really get into what drove him. You know, witnessing his parents’ murder, being raised in this incredible mansion, and becoming this night-stalking vigilante who saves the world from terrible criminals, but then comes home and eats a heated-up dinner on his own. What does that do to you?”

Finding Meaning in Unlikely Places

Despite a career packed with memorable roles, it’s the voice of a plastic superhero that Arnett holds dearest. The character’s mix of bravado, loneliness, and dry wit seems to have struck a chord with him—and with audiences everywhere. Whether he’s making Aussies laugh or lending his voice to a new generation of fans, Arnett’s journey shows that sometimes, the most unexpected gigs leave the biggest mark.