After working with Netflix in 2020 for The Trial Of The Chicago 7, Aaron Sorkin is jumping to streaming rival Amazon for his next project. This one is another fact-based drama, set within the world of comedy not unlike his mid-2000s TV series Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip.
The film will revolve around the stories of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, a real-life couple that formed production company Desilu Productions and starred in hugely influential TV comedy I Love Lucy. Sorkin’s film will be titled Being The Ricardos, and he’s snagged Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem to play the lead roles.
Kidman takes over from Cate Blanchett, who was originally attached when Sorkin was only going to write the screenplay. The focus of the film will be a weeklong production cycle of an I Love Lucy episode, and while the powerhouse couple deals with the drama of putting up an episode of television, a personal crisis rears its head and threatens them to their core.
This is right up Sorkin’s alley. He’s always been interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects of everything, from online businesses (The Social Network) to sports teams (Moneyball) to news shows (The Newsroom) and even The White House (The West Wing).
Being The Ricardos should be filled with his typically snappy dialogue, loquacious characters, and the ins-and-outs of TV production. If you’re already a Sorkin fan, you know exactly what to expect and should be pretty excited. If Sorkin is not your cup of tea, this film probably won’t be the one to convert you.
No word yet on when the film is scheduled to begin production, but when it’s eventually ready, expect an awards-friendly release.
#Peace.Love.BeingTheRicardos
