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Nicole Kidman's Lucille Ball Casting Has People's Imaginations Running Wild
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On Jan. 11, Deadline reported that Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were in negotiations to play Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming Being the Ricardos. The film is set during the production of I Love Lucy and sees Lucy and Desi face crises that could potentially end their careers and marriage. When Being the Ricardos was originally announced in 2017, Cate Blanchett was attached to play Lucille, though it’s unclear what happened. With the casting change from Blanchett to Kidman, fans have already begun voicing their opinions on the news. The internet’s response has ranged from excited to confused, with many fans casting their vision of the ideal actress for the part. You can see some of the internet’s choices ahead.
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Debra Messing
Of all the women on this list, Debra Messing is the only one that’s actively thrown her name into the ring. On Jan. 12, she retweeted a fan’s comment saying that Messing was “unavailable” with a comment of her own, “Oh no, I’m available.” She also liked numerous tweets with fans calling for her to be cast in the part, even responding to those who said she wouldn’t do it, tweeting: “Ummmmmm, I changed my mind.” Beyond Twitter being on board with Messing’s casting, Will & Grace had an entire I Love Lucy tribute episode called “We Love Lucy.” On the episode, Messing re-enacted Ball’s iconic Vitameatavegamin commercial.
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Kathryn Hahn
Another name fans keep throwing around on Twitter is Kathryn Hahn, who you might recognize as Jennifer Barkley from Parks and Recreation. “Imagine her comedic timing and serious chops [with] Sorkin’s dialogue,” one fan tweeted when Sorkin’s film was just an idea. Hahn has been a comedy mainstay since her turn as Michelle Rueben in 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. When it comes to more dramatic roles, Hahn has certainly proved herself with her roles on I Know This Much Is True and Private Life.
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Gillian Anderson
Like Messing, this wouldn’t be the first time Gillian Anderson played Lucille Ball if re-cast. During Anderson’s first appearance as Media on American Gods, her first materialization is as Ball. “The only experience I really had in any personal way with any of Media’s characters was a photo shoot I did with Mark Seliger many eons ago where I was Lucille Ball,” she previously told EW. “Funny enough, I actually looked more like Lucille Ball back [in 1997] than I do now, just in terms of the angularness of my face.” Fans even tweeted, “Why do you get anyone but Gillian Anderson to play Lucille Ball?“
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Toni Collette
There was a little more shade when it came to requests for Toni Collette to be considered. “An Australian actress replacing another Australian actress to play Lucille Ball . . . and Toni Collette at no point entering the equation . . . make it make sense,” said one Twitter user. Although another mentioned Collette’s duality when it comes to both comedic and dramatic roles, saying: “As of today, I am obsessed with the idea of Toni Collette playing Lucille Ball. She who plays the role needs to be able to play Lucille Ball… not just Lucy Ricardo.”
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Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig’s strong performance as Barbara Minerva in Wonder Woman 1984 wowed fans and had them considering her for Being the Ricardos. Others didn’t give any reason as to why they wanted her, just that “I said, what I said.” Wiig’s already proven her physical comedy is top-notch and that she can do almost anything she sets her mind to. How else would you describe every character she’s ever done on Saturday Night Live?