Photo: prime video. Inset: getty
The Academy Award-winning screenwriter, 60,commented on the reactionsto the upcoming biopicBeing the Ricardosin an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, as he defended his decision to cast Kidman, 54, as Ball andJavier BardemasDesi Arnaz.
“We made this movie during COVID, and so in Zooming with Nicole and Javier and everyone else, I’d make it very clear to them that I am not looking for a physical or vocal impersonation of these people,” he said. “Leading up to the first rehearsal, I’d write to them every day, ‘Just play the characters who are in the script.’ I know that Nicole was working on Lucy’s voice for a while, and I wanted to relieve her of that.
“As far as audience anticipation, that’s something I’m just not worried about. I’m certain that when people see the movie, they’ll leave feeling that Nicole has made a very solid case for herself, but moreover, I’ve found that you can really leverage low expectations,” Sorkin added.
He also made it clear that the movie only features “less than three minutes” of Ball performing on her and Arnaz’s sitcomI Love Lucy, painting a much broader portrait of the couple’s life and relationship.
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Sorkin also wanted to emphasize the “contrast” between Lucy and Lucille. Withthe blessing of Lucie Arnaz, Lucille and Desi’s daughter, he was able to depict a version of the comedian not seen onscreen.
RELATED VIDEO:Nicole KidmanChannels Lucille Ball in First Photos from the Set ofBeing the Ricardos
SeeNicole Kidmanand Javier Bardem inBeing the Ricardos, premiering Dec. 10 in theaters and Dec. 21 on Amazon Prime Video.
source: people.com
