Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz‘s classic show “I Love Lucy” arguably did everything in its power to prove that family sitcoms could be developed into an art form. “I Love Lucy” was pioneering for its use of multiple, simultaneously filming cameras and a live studio audience. It was also one of the first TV shows to be shot on 35mm film rather than broadcast live. So, it’s interesting to see writer/director Aaron Sorkin (“Trial of The Chicago 7“) bringing the small-screen icons to the big screen with “Being The Ricardos” starring Oscar-winners Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as the comedic duo.
The film will tell the behind-the-scenes story of their beloved show “I Love Lucy” and the iconic stars of the sitcom. Sorkin is admittedly moving out of his regular comfort zone and revealed to Turner Classic Movies recently, via Entertainment Weekly, that the dramatic biopic will feature four musical numbers — a new element for the filmmaker, known for strong banter between characters, his love of “four-walls,” and song and dance sequences, not so much.
“I can give you an expected challenge. There are four musical numbers in the film, and that’s something I’d never done before, but we had a great musical director, great choreographer. The musical numbers are organic. It’s not ‘La La Land.’ It’s rehearsals for ‘Too Many Girls.’ It’s at Ciro’s where Desi and his orchestra are playing, that kind of thing,” Sorkin explained.
Desi being a bandleader of a club in the show opened the door for “I Love Lucy” to have a more variety show vibe, something that would also become just as popular as the sitcom on American television in subsequent years.
The supporting cast on the Amazon Studios film includes J.K. Simmons as William Frawley, Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance, Tony Hale as Jess Oppenheimer, Alia Shawkat as Madelyn Pugh, Jake Lacy, as Bob Caroll Jr., and Clark Gregg.
Outside of some set photos of Kidman as Lucille Ball, we’re still dying to see some polished footage and stills. ‘Being The Ricardos” was thought to be a late 2021 release possibly, but at this point, 2022 seems like a good bet.