Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem to play Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin movie
Aux Features Film
Way back in 2017, Amazon picked up the distribution rights to a Lucille Ball biopic directed by Aaron Sorkin and starring Cate Blanchett—who, at that point, had already been attached to the project for years. At some point, though, Blanchett allowed the project to pass her by like so many chocolates on a conveyer belt, and now Nicole Kidman has signed on to star in the film—now dubbed Being The Ricardos—alongside Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz. The premise for the movie is that it will follow Ball and Arnaz during one tumultuous week of I Love Lucy production, from a table read on Monday to filming in front of an audience on Friday, all while the two stars “face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.” So, yes, it will absolutely be the most on-brand thing Aaron Sorkin could possibly do with a Lucille Ball biopic.
With that all established, it’s kind of hard to deny that this casting seems a little weird. Both Kidman and Bardem are older than Ball and Arnaz were when I Love Lucy was on, and Bardem in particular doesn’t seem like he carries the same sort of energy that Arnaz had in the I Love Lucy era. Or maybe he’s just been sitting on this secret well of spryness for the majority of his career? We’ll have to wait and see, but Deadline (which originally reported this) points out that we might have to wait for a while: Neither Kidman nor Bardem actually have deals in place yet, and Sorkin will still have to deal with the pandemic and its related shutdowns even once those deals happen—assuming they do happen and that we didn’t just blow this whole thing with our Bardem-as-Arnaz skepticism.
81 Comments
Talk about a movie with no reason for existing….
Cue long boring speeches about what I Love Lucy and the cast means to America, because Aaron Sorkin can’t write any historical biography without the benefit of hindsight.
To be fair, Trial of the Chicago 7 was more Sorkin turning Abbie Hoffman from an anarchist he was in real life into his own neoliberal mouthpiece.
Upon rewatching The Social Network, I was surprised to see that Sorkin end up being the bigger shitbag in his scriptwriting than his fictionalized version of Marky Zukes (which is weird, Zuckerberg was contemptible even before the war crimes).
“Viv, do you ever wonder the broader implications of our work?”
“What do you mean Lucille?”
“Well I know we’re just comedians, but with skits like Vitamityvegamin, I really think we’re ‘saying something about the state of the American middle class and our reliance upon cheap productions in our post-war age.”
“Gee I think you may be on to something! I hope that one day people will appreciate that this isn’t just a disposable medium. This is….ART!”
Take your star, you brilliant bastard.
That, and he will almost certainly squeeze in that “one egg is un oeuf” joke. He won’t rest until that gets the laughs he thinks it deserves.
Aaron Sorkin is really good at draining all of the humor from a story about producing comedy. Exhibit A:
The weird thing about that is that I think he’s pretty good at using humor in dramatic stories; The West Wing had plenty of funny moments.
Of course you do…
from a table read on Monday to filming in front of an audience on Friday, all while the two stars “face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.”So, basically, an Aaron Sorkin PLAY.Also, Sam, are you seriously questioning that Javier Frickin’ Bardem can’t literally do ANYTHING?! He can do everything.
Delivering erudite zingers with a mouthful of chocolate could challenge even Nicole Kidman’s considerable acting talents.
When did the “….ing Something” title phenomenon start and how can we stop it?
Being John Malkovich maybe? Wait, no there was Regarding Henry before than.
I’ll raise you “Raising Arizona” (1987)
“Eating Raoul” (1982) raises a bloody hand.https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VerbingNouny
Being There, 1979.
It would have been cheaper to lower Nevada!
Perhaps the one way Raising Arizona’s legacy has failed us.
One solution to the problem: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/favorite-gerund-movie-titles-un-gerunded
“…and We Made This Piece of Shit Movie About It.”
It takes some really convoluted mind games (and added punctuation) to intepret any these as gerunds.
Some could be gerundive, I suppose, but the natural interpretation would be ‘Favorite Present Continuous Active Movie Titles in Other, Mostly Passive Voice, Conjugations.’
Pedantic? Sure, but Ian Carey should have expected that publishing on McSweeney’s.
Creeping Flesh (1973)
They’re going to walk down a long hallway and argue about Lucy wanting to sing at the Copacabana.
I can only assume Debra Messing asked for too much money.
Look, Nicole Kidman is a great actor. But… man, I’m just not seeing this one.
I think she’ll do this pretty good. There is something effortlessly charming about Kidman, and she always makes me laugh when she gets to play silly in things.
Plus, she already played Bewitched, so all she needs after this is Jeannie and maybe The Movie Star and she’ll have old tv show Yahtzee!
It’s less Kidman, and more Bardem for me. I just really cannot imagine Bardem doing any kind of Desi Arnaz impression that isn’t akward as well. Though, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him channel No Country for Old Men, which would be hilarious. Then again, I’ve been surprised by him before, so who knows.
His voice is way too deep. And his energy is wrong. But honestly no other a-list actor comes to mind.
Yeah that’s the thing, I cant really think of anyone else that could pull it off in the way I imagine.
Lucille Ball but, you know, breathy.
Well, Lucille Ball was a real babe when she was younger….Though, yeah, I’m not seeing Xavier Bardem as Desi Arnaz at all. Too bad they can’t cast Weird Al Yankovic as Desi Arnaz….
Emily Beecham from Hail Caesar! would be perfect as Lucy:
Nathan Rabin (Remember him? He used to work here) went on for a bit on his site about Weird Al Yankovic’s “Hey, Ricky!”, and how Al made the supreme sacrifice and shaved his mustache to play Ricky Ricardo in the music video.
He’s surprisingly convincing — more than Xavier Bardem would be, I’ll bet.
I sooo don’t see it, and I’m a huge Nicole Kidman stan / apologist. Don’t you want a big hammy ham in that role, like a Cate Blanchett? Someone with right physical features who can’t help but Go Big.
See I went in a totally different direction. Doesn’t this kind of call for someone who has that kind of zany, elastic energy of Lucy? But can also pull of drama? And, as a benefit, is closer to the actual correct age? Unfortunately, Aya Cash probably isn’t high enough profile to get this, but she’d be killer. Understudy (with a substantially higher wig budget) would be Zoey Deschanel.
I didn’t have faith when Zellwegger signed on as Garland and I thought that was one of the better performances of someone in a long time, so have faith!
Lucille Ball in her prime famously had a lifeless, unmoving Botox face. This is PERFECT casting.
Does Desilu Studios have long corridors they can walk and talk and argue and live and laugh and love in?
I guess after the smash hit that was Bewitched, Nicole Kidman couldn’t resist. I mostly find the Kidman of recent years to be somewhat tedious, to be honest, and I also find yet another regurgitation of the angst and misery of Lucille and Desi’s mariage to be beyond tedious (they already made a TV-movie about this 30 years ago!), so I guess, somehow, it fits.
i know she isn’t as big a draw as kidman, but debra messing exists.
Messing would be a genius pick (and probably why it didn’t happen). Granted, I would love to see Bardem show some serious comedy chops, but hey, Raul Julia is gone so…
weird how bardem and penelope cruz managed to corner the market for almost every single spanish-speaking character of substance. it’s hilariously ironic, but i understand why people would get mad.
When do people lose their minds that Bardem isn’t Cuban?
Or that Kidman isn’t funny?
Someone hasn’t seen To Die For.
It’s been a long time, but I don’t recall being that enamored with her performance. It was more manic than funny.
Kidman is actually a great comedic actress.
I liked her in Bewitched.
well, he was in before night falls, so i’m sure it’ll be fine.
We wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t chimed in!
“Lucy, you’ve got some over-explaining to do.”
This comment is underrated.
C’mon, this is Sorkin we’re talking about here.It’s the men who will do the explaining while the women look at them in awe.
Counterpoint: I finally caught Molly’s Game on Netflix and it’s exactly two hours and twenty minutes of Jessica Chastain giving exposition.
How true, Arisen!
Fun fact: Desi never actually said the line you’re referencing.
Mandela Effect strikes again!
Was The Social Network the last movie where Sorkin cast American actors to play prominent American protagonists? Unlike Sam, I can imagine Bardem and Kidman in the roles, although I think its Kidman who has the bigger challenge. Anyone familiar with personal history of Lucy and Desi knows that they were much tougher and more volatile than their sitcom facades. It’s just interesting how often Sorkin uses international leads in his quintessentially American stories.
Prominent American protagonists like Brazilian Eduardo Saverin.
Or Steve Jobs, Abbie Hoffman, Tom Hayden, William Kunstler…
This seems bad all around. When I think Lucille Ball I definitely think of a woman whose face is frozen and who acts while posing and has never pulled off anything close to a comedy role ever. And Sorkin? Does anyone remember the time he did a TV series about a comedy institution?
Nicole Kidman is insanely talented.
Billy West does the best Lucille Ball, he should get the role.
I mean, Kristen Wiig and Oscar Isaac are right there…
Can’t wait to see Javier Bardem emerge from a door, filling the frame, conga strapped across his chest, as he intones a menacing, “Lucy… I’m home.”
“Fred, Ethel, what’s the most you’ve ever lost in a- where’s the coin?!”“Oh, I’m sorry, I must’ve lost it!” “LUCY! YOU HAVE SOME ‘SPLAINING TO DO!” “OH, ANTON, WAAAAH!”
Mister Dalliard:
“Fred, Ethel, what’s the most you’ve ever lost in a- where’s the coin?!”“Oh, I’m sorry, I must’ve lost it!” “LUCY! YOU HAVE SOME ‘SPLAINING TO DO!” “OH, ANTON, WAAAAH!”Oh, for this to suddenly leap up and run headlong in this direction! Ball as a Marx Sister, running full amok like a live action (original) Animaniac would be great silly fun, and really, we all could use that.
Can Bardem get his captive bolt gun back?I have a different kind of movie in mind.
Don’t know whether to go: “Whaaaaaaaa!” or “Eeeeeeeeugh!”
Well, if this movie blows, there IS the perfect gif for that.
Oh, 2021, you are shaping up to be as dumb and crazy a bitch as your older sister.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem to play Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Oh…?
in Aaron Sorkin movieOh.
It’s probably about when Lucille was accused of being a communist, and Desi told the studio audience “The only thing red about her is her hair.”
My grandmother loved Lucy. Pun intended. I watched re-runs all the time with her when growing up. No one, let alone my deceased grandmother wants or needs this. Let it go.
I’d rather see a film about the Isle of Lucy Blues-Jazz Festival.
Ball had one of the most-expressive faces in comedy history. How is a botoxed, plastic-faced fembot like Kidman gonna play her?
they are gonna have to do performance-cap and CGI it in post, I guess.
I like Bardem, but I’m just…not getting Desi Arnaz from his casting. (Antonio Banderas used to get a pass for Spain-washing, but I’d assumed we be past that by now. Guess not.) Kidman really doesn’t give me Lucille Ball either. The only modern actor out there who seems to have the same type of energy as Ball is Rachel Brosnahan, who’s basically playing Ball in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She would’ve been my pick.
There’s actually a movie in Desi Arnaz’s life story — wealthy family turned refugee after the 1933 Revolution(!); becomes popular bandleader first in Miami then New York City; is put in the Broadway musical Too Many Girls, which get turned into a movie in Hollywood where he meets and marries Lucille Ball; does some acting in early WWII movies, is drafted but injures his knee and, despite finishing Basic Training, is seconded to the USO where he uses his Hollywood connections to have starlets serve cold milk to returning wounded vets, as well as directing USO shows and singing alongside the core of his new orchestra, which he forms after demobilization; the Desi Arnaz Orchestra is the house band for Bob Hope’s The Pepsodent Show; Arnaz gets to host a radio game show Your Tropical Vacation while Ball becomes a radio comedy star in My Favorite Husband; when CBS wants to turn My Favorite Husband into a television series, Ball insists on real-life husband Arnaz playing her on-camera husband, the show gets turned from a comedy about two showbiz performers juggling life and careers into Arnaz’s “Ricky Ricardo” as a struggling(?!?) bandleader with Lucy his inept, untalented wife who wants to be in showbiz!This, though? Yeah, sounds like a play being shot for television….