Aaron Sorkin is getting set for his next directorial film for Amazon Studios entitled Being the Ricardos. The film is based on a true story and follows I Love Lucy stars and partners Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Deadline reports, the studio and director are currently looking at Academy Award Winners Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem for the leading roles.
The film follows a production week of the popular 50’s show I Love Lucy. It will reportedly focus on the couples on set and off-set problems with the show and their relationship. The original sitcom ran for six seasons, and then had a spin-off called The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour that lasted three seasons. The Ricardos were one of the very first beloved American TV couples and changed the landscape for sitcoms to come.
Sorkin penned the script and this will be his third time behind the camera as director. He previously made Molly’s Game and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Sorkin has slowly gone back in time with these true stories. His first took place in the early 2000’s, the next was set in the late 1960’s, and finally this biopic will be set in the 1950’s. Sorkin is great at writing dialogue, but it will be interesting to see if it all comes together this time. Both of his previous films have received decent to solid reviews, but nothing compared to his Oscar winning screenplay for The Social Network.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are a little old to play the age Ball and Arnaz were for the initial run of I Love Lucy. However, both actors are talented enough to make it work. It will certainly be a pleasure to see them hop from the ‘fake’ 1950’s while acting in the show, compared to their ‘real’ marriage problems.
There is no set production date or release date for this project. Though it will eventually be streaming on Amazon Prime, hopefully after a theatrical run.