Amazon Studios acquires Lucy and Desi with Cate Blanchett set to star as Lucille Ball
Amazon Studios is set to take on Lucy and Desi, a drama about the marriage of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, stars of the sitcom I Love Lucy, according to Deadline. The Escape Artists drama is scripted by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men). Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy) is set to star as Ball. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will produce for Escape Artists.
The film is reportedly looking at big names for the role of Arnaz, including Javier Bardem, and for the roles of William Frawley and Vivian Vance who played Fred and Ethel in the I Love Lucy series. Lucie Luckinbill and Desi Arnaz Jr., the children of Ball and Arnaz, are involved with the project. Lucy and Desi will have access to the memoirs written by Ball and Arnaz, the rights to which have been controlled by Luckinbill and Arnaz Jr. The drama will look at the marriage of Ball and Arnaz and their business relationship set around their company Desilu.
I Love Lucy starred Ball and Arnaz as well as Frawley and Vance, and ran from October 15, 1951 to May 6, 1957 on CBS. There were also three seasons of hour-long specials after that. The show was the most-watched TV series in the country for four of its six seasons and is still in syndication around the world. Cate Blanchett will next be seen in Thor: Ragnarok where she’ll play Hela, and is the voice of Kaa in the upcoming Jungle Book film from director Andy Serkis.
Are you guys excited for Lucy and Desi? What do you think of the casting of Cate Blanchett as Lucille Ball? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @ComingSoonnet.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
