Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are in negotiations to play the iconic Hollywood couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, respectively, in the upcoming film “Being the Ricardos,” directed by Aaron Sorkin.
The movie will take place during a production week on the set of “I Love Lucy,” starting with a Monday table read through an audience shoot on Friday. Ball and Arnaz will face challenges that could end their careers and their marriage.
Sorkin has written the screenplay and will direct the film for Amazon Studios and Escape Artists. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists will produce. Escape Artists’ Jenna Block and David Bloomfield will serve as executive producers, alongside Stuart Besser, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Lauren Lohman.
A production start date isn’t clear as the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down most projects filming in the U.S.
Kidman most recently starred in the HBO drama series “The Undoing,” alongside Hugh Grant. She was also featured in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix musical “The Prom.” This year, she will star in Hulu’s star-studded “Nine Little Strangers” and Robert Eggers’ “The Northman.”
Bardem will star in Deni Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic “Dune” and was most recently seen in “The Roads Not Taken.” He’ll also play Ariel’s father King Triton in Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.”
Sorkin just released “The Trial of the Chicago 7” on Netflix, which is building major Oscar buzz. He made his directing debut with “Molly’s Game” starring Jessica Chastain, and wrote the scripts for “The Social Network,” “A Few Good Men” and “Moneyball.”
Kidman is represented by CAA, Shanahan Management and Media Talent Group. Bardem is represented by WME. Sorkin is represented by CAA.
Deadline first reported the news.