Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem Star as Lucy and Desi in New ‘Being the Ricardos’ Trailer

Aaron Sorkin’s new film follows the I Love Lucy couple as they grapple with affairs, an FBI investigation into Lucille Ball’s political beliefs, and more.

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem capture the tumult that simmered beneath the comedy of Lucile Ball and Desi Arnaz in the new trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos. The film is set to hit theaters Dec. 10 before arriving on Amazon Prime Video Dec. 21.

Being the Ricardos is set during a pivotal week in the production of Ball and Arnaz’s classic sitcom, I Love Lucy. In the trailer, the famous couple struggle with everything from flubbed lines and extramarital affairs to the FBI’s investigation into Ball’s political views and supposed ties to the communist party (she would eventually speak with the House Un-American Activities Committee, saying she joined the party in the Thirties at the behest of her grandfather).

‘Being the Ricardos’ Official Trailer: Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball Revealed in New Footage

Amidst all this turmoil, however, Ball maintains a clear-eyed perspective, saying at one point, “I care about what works, I care about what’s funny.”

It was only earlier this year that “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Aaron Sorkin’s second feature directorial effort and his follow-up to “Molly’s Game,” earned six Academy Award nominations, including bids for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sacha Baron Cohen), and Best Original Screenplay for Sorkin. At the Golden Globes and Directors Guild of America Awards, Sorkin even managed to earn nominations for Best Director. It was a big step up from “Molly’s Game,” which went overlooked at top awards shows. Can the upcoming “Being the Ricardos” continue Sorkin’s award momentum as a director?

The film’s big selling point is seeing Oscar winner Nicole Kidman as comedy icon Lucille Ball. The film’s first teaser hid Kidman’s face for most of its duration, but fans get a much better look at the actress’ transformation into Ball in the official trailer below. Oscar winner Javier Bardem stars as Desi Arnaz, with J.K. Simmons as William Frawley, who played Lucy and Ricky’s landlord Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” and Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance, best known for playing Lucy’s best friend Ethel Mertz. The film also features Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Clark Gregg, Linda Lavin, and Jake Lacy.

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“[Aaron Sorkin] captured the essence of that time in their lives so well,” Lucille and Desi’s daughter Lucie Arnaz previously said in a statement. “He captured the heart of my mother, my father, their relationship,” Arnaz said. “And Nicole Kidman became my mother’s soul. She crawled into her head. She cared very deeply about this part, it shows. And I believed everything she said. Javier Bardem, he really doesn’t look that much like my dad. But he has everything that Dad had. He has his wit, his charm, his dimples, his musicality, his strength and tenacity, and you can tell from the performance that he just loved him.”

Along with Kidman and Bardem, Being the Ricardos stars J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, Clark Gregg, and Jake Lacy. Sorkin wrote and directed the film.

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