A couple years back, a promising project surfaced: Cate Blachett was tapped to play Lucille Ball in a biopic penned by Aaron Sorkin. Everything about that screams “Green light!,” but as things go in Hollywood, the project stalled and we sort of forgot about it. However, it’s now back in the spotlight.
Amazon Studios has swooped in and acquired the rights to the film, which is called “Lucy And Desi.” The picture will chronicle Lucille Ball’s rocky marriage to onscreen partner Desi Arnaz, a relationship made more complicated by the added strain of running the production company Desilu together as well. The project comes with the blessing of Lucie Luckinbill and Desi Arnaz Jr., so it will be authorized take on the famed television duo, with Sorkin and co. gaining rights to Ball and Arnaz’s memoirs.
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So far, Sorkin is just tapped to pen the film, but there’s no word yet if he’ll jump into the director’s chair. Perhaps decision makers are waiting to see how his directorial debut, “Molly’s Game,” is received this fall. Meanwhile, the hunt is one for other cast members, most crucially Desi Arnaz, with Javier Bardem said to be in the mix. It all sounds like it could be pretty great stuff, so let’s hope we’re not waiting another two years for it to come together. [Deadline]