Nicole as Lucy? New Biopic Looks Back at 1950s Hollywood Biggest Power Couple

In the early 1950s there was no more powerful Hollywood couple than Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Desilu, the couple's production company, produced "I Love Lucy," the sit-com juggernaut that ruled television ratings for six seasons (1951-1957). It was also one of the few shows from the period shot on 35mm film, which has allowed it to endure in reruns for generations. The success of the show saved both Ball's career and her marriage to Arnaz, which was in trouble due to their conflicting schedules and his wandering eye.

Variety reports that the couple's lives are to be explored in a feature film called "Being the Ricardos" that stars Nicole Kidman as Ball and Javier Bardem as Arnaz. It will be directed by Aaron Sorkin from his script.

"Sorkin wrote the film that is set during one production week of 'I Love Lucy,' when Lucy and Desi face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage," writes Variety.

Sorkin, Deadline reports, was originally going to write the script with Cate Blanchett interested in the film, but after directing "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (currently on Netflix), he decided to helm the project. The film "began to gain momentum with Kidman and Bardem quickly interest in the couple behind TV's first family. Deals still need to close for both actors, but even if and when they do, when production will start is still up in the air as the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to push productions throughout the country."