A new movie about the life of one of America's favorite TV stars is in the works - and it already has her fans divided.
The project, called Lucy and Desi, will focus on Lucille Ball's 20-year marriage to her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz. Lucy and Desi eloped less than a year after meeting, and their relationship took center stage in all of their projects, including I Love Lucy. Ball's pregnancy with her son Desi Jr. was written into the show, at a time when CBS didn't even want the word "pregnancy" to be spoken on TV.
Ball's classic sitcoms earned her 13 Emmy nominations, and the star won 4 times. Along with making her own shows, her television company Desilu Productions helped create other hit series like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.
The star also attracted her fair share of controversy, and was even investigated by the FBI. The agency thought Lucy had ties to the Communist Party, but as her husband joked "The only thing red about Lucy is her hair."
There's no telling which parts of Lucy's life will be featured in the new movie, and with a life as exciting as hers something astounding is bound to be left out. But the first details about the new film - including who will play Lucy - are drawing criticism from her biggest fans.
Find out who will play Lucy and Desi on the next page!
It's hard to imagine that any actress can capture the spirit of Lucille Ball, and that's what has her fans around the world so worried.
Early casting news about who will play Lucy and Desi in the film, which is being produced by Amazon, has fans who grew up watching I Love Lucy convinced this project is doomed before it even begins.
The film, which is made with the blessing of Lucy and Desi's children Lucie and Desi Jr., is written by Aaron Sorkin, who also wrote A Few Good Men and Moneyball.
Cate Blanchett, the blonde actress who starred in films like The Aviator and The Lord of the Rings, is in talks to play the redhead comedian.
That news is enough to spoil the project for some fans, who say she doesn't look a thing like Lucy. "Sorry. No one can play Lucy but Lucille Ball herself," one fan commented. "Many have tried. All have failed."
Producers are also looking to cast Lucy's husband Desi, as well as Vivian Vance and William Frawley, who played the couple's neighbors the Mertzes.
While there's no official casting news, Spanish actor Javier Bardem has been rumored as the top choice to play Desi.
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