Nicole Kidmanis in the throes of preparing to playLucille Ball, and the actress couldn’t be more “excited.“The Oscar winner spoke of playing the comedy legend for Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming filmBeing the Ricardosin an interview withVarietyon Wednesday.“I was like, ‘Yeah, I would love to give it a go,'” Kidman, 53, said of accepting the role. “With Aaron’s words and his direction and Javier… that’s kind of a wonderful prospect to, you know. But yikes, off we go. Give it a go. Try my best—see if I can do it.“Javier Bardemwill play Desi Arnaz, Ball’s then-husband and comedic partner inI Love Lucy.The actress added that she’s been watching plenty of episodes of the iconic show, saying, “I love Lucille, having looked now and delved into her.“Nicole Kidman, Lucille Ball.Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Herbert Dorfman/Getty Images"She’s an amazing woman,” Kidman added. “I’m very excited for people to see what Aaron found out about her and the way he’s interpreted Desi and Lucy and the way that it’s so rich. I didn’t know any of this.“Earlier this month,DeadlinereportedKidman and Bardem were in negotiationsto play the famous on-screen and off-screen couple for the upcoming film.Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.Archive Photos/GettyThe movie is set to take place during the filming of the much-loved CBS sitcom as the couple faces a crisis that could end their careers and their marriage during a week of production onI Love Lucy.The show aired from 1951 to 1957 and spanned six seasons. Ball and Arnaz played married couple Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, as Lucy tries numerous schemes to be part of show business through Ricky’s nightclub.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In real life, Ball and Arnaz married in 1940 and had two children together: daughter Lucie Arnaz, 69, and son Desi Arnaz Jr., 67. They divorced in 1960.Kidman’s casting received some pushback from those who thoughtDebra Messingor Carole Cook would be a better fit for the role. Ball and Arnaz’s daughter,Lucie, defended Kidman’s castinglast week in a video she shared on Facebook, saying, “It’s a done deal.““The contracts aren’t actually signed, which is why I haven’t said anything publicly about it,” Lucie said at the time. “But I felt I should just at least try to calm the waters here.““Here’s the deal. You should understand. We are not doing a remake ofI Love Lucy. No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine, or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things,” Lucie said. “It’s the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband, Dezi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo.““There will be humor in the film, but it is a story of the two of them and how they met and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong, their relationship, their love affair,” she continued. “Now, of course, it’s going to haveI Love Lucyin it — as a matter of fact, Aaron Sorkin has set it on the stage of a filming one week of rehearsal, rehearsing and filming the show — but all this other stuff takes place during that time.”
Nicole Kidmanis in the throes of preparing to playLucille Ball, and the actress couldn’t be more “excited.”
The Oscar winner spoke of playing the comedy legend for Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming filmBeing the Ricardosin an interview withVarietyon Wednesday.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I would love to give it a go,'” Kidman, 53, said of accepting the role. “With Aaron’s words and his direction and Javier… that’s kind of a wonderful prospect to, you know. But yikes, off we go. Give it a go. Try my best—see if I can do it.”
Javier Bardemwill play Desi Arnaz, Ball’s then-husband and comedic partner inI Love Lucy.
The actress added that she’s been watching plenty of episodes of the iconic show, saying, “I love Lucille, having looked now and delved into her.”
Nicole Kidman, Lucille Ball.Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Herbert Dorfman/Getty Images
“She’s an amazing woman,” Kidman added. “I’m very excited for people to see what Aaron found out about her and the way he’s interpreted Desi and Lucy and the way that it’s so rich. I didn’t know any of this.”
Earlier this month,DeadlinereportedKidman and Bardem were in negotiationsto play the famous on-screen and off-screen couple for the upcoming film.
Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.Archive Photos/Getty
The movie is set to take place during the filming of the much-loved CBS sitcom as the couple faces a crisis that could end their careers and their marriage during a week of production onI Love Lucy.
The show aired from 1951 to 1957 and spanned six seasons. Ball and Arnaz played married couple Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, as Lucy tries numerous schemes to be part of show business through Ricky’s nightclub.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In real life, Ball and Arnaz married in 1940 and had two children together: daughter Lucie Arnaz, 69, and son Desi Arnaz Jr., 67. They divorced in 1960.
Kidman’s casting received some pushback from those who thoughtDebra Messingor Carole Cook would be a better fit for the role. Ball and Arnaz’s daughter,Lucie, defended Kidman’s castinglast week in a video she shared on Facebook, saying, “It’s a done deal.”
“The contracts aren’t actually signed, which is why I haven’t said anything publicly about it,” Lucie said at the time. “But I felt I should just at least try to calm the waters here.”
“Here’s the deal. You should understand. We are not doing a remake ofI Love Lucy. No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine, or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things,” Lucie said. “It’s the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband, Dezi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo.”
“There will be humor in the film, but it is a story of the two of them and how they met and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong, their relationship, their love affair,” she continued. “Now, of course, it’s going to haveI Love Lucyin it — as a matter of fact, Aaron Sorkin has set it on the stage of a filming one week of rehearsal, rehearsing and filming the show — but all this other stuff takes place during that time.”
source: people.com
