Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in talks to portray Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for new Amazon film

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in talks to portray Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for new Amazon film directed by Social Network scribe Aaron Sorkin

Together, they created the blueprint for the American television sitcom, and remain one of TV’s most classic couples. 

And Oscar-winning actors Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are currently in negotiations to portray Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, respectively, in a new film for Amazon from writer-director Aaron Sorkin.

As reported by Deadline on Monday, the film stars are being courted for Sorkin‘s Being The Ricardos, which takes a slice-of-life look at the iconic couple behind revolutionary 1950s comedy series I Love Lucy.

TV’s first couple: Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are currently in negotiations to portray Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (pictured) in a new film from writer-director Aaron Sorkin

The film is said to follow the star pair – who played showbiz couple Lucy and Ricky Ricardo for six seasons from 1951 to 1957 – during a dramatic week of production on the Emmy-winning show, from the Monday table read until the Friday live in-studio filming.

During the course of the film, the couple face a series of crises that could end both their careers as well as their marriage. 

Lucy and Desi were married for 20 years, from 1940 until 1960, and had two children together: Lucie Arnaz, 69, and Desi Arnaz Jr., 67..

I Love Lucy remains to this day the gold standard when it comes to winning television comedy, thanks mainly to Ball’s incredible comic timing and the starring pair’s electric odd-couple chemistry.

Potential future Lucy and Desi: The film stars are reportedly being courted for Sorkin‘s Being The Ricardos, which takes a slice-of-life look at the iconic couple behind revolutionary 1950s comedy series I Love Lucy

Potential future Lucy and Desi: The film stars are reportedly being courted for Sorkin‘s Being The Ricardos, which takes a slice-of-life look at the iconic couple behind revolutionary 1950s comedy series I Love Lucy

Potential future Lucy and Desi: The film stars are reportedly being courted for Sorkin‘s Being The Ricardos, which takes a slice-of-life look at the iconic couple behind revolutionary 1950s comedy series I Love Lucy

Sorkin, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter behind The Social Network and The Newsroom among many others, was initially only set to write the new film. 

However, after helming his excellent Netflix film The Trial Of The Chicago 7 from last year, he decided to attach himself as the director to this new project as well.

Being The Ricardos reportedly first attracted the interest of Cate Blanchett, before fellow Aussie performer Kidman began eyeing the role.

Comedy gold: I Love Lucy remains to this day the gold standard when it comes to winning television comedy, thanks mainly to Ball's incredible comic timing and the starring pair's electric odd-couple chemistry

Comedy gold: I Love Lucy remains to this day the gold standard when it comes to winning television comedy, thanks mainly to Ball’s incredible comic timing and the starring pair’s electric odd-couple chemistry

Sorkin, was initially only set to write the new film: However, after helming his excellent Netflix film The Trial Of The Chicago 7, he decided to direct this new  project as well; seen last October

Sorkin, was initially only set to write the new film: However, after helming his excellent Netflix film The Trial Of The Chicago 7, he decided to direct this new  project as well; seen last October

Nicole can currently be seen on HBO Max in the limited series The Undoing, and has also recently wrapped another series adaptation from a book by Liane Moriarty after the acclaimed Big Little Lies, titled Nine Perfect Strangers.

The Hours star has also finished filming a new feature titled The Northman, costarring The Queen’s Gambit breakout star Anya Taylor-Joy as well as Nicole‘s Big Little Lies costar Alexander Skarsgard.

It’s interesting to note that Kidman is no stranger to re-creating a classic television icon – she played witchy Samantha Stephens in 2005’s somewhat misbegotten update of Bewitched, which starred Elizabeth Montgomery.

Skyfall actor Bardem will next be seen in October‘s sci-fi epic Dune, and is currently filming Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid in the role of King Triton. 

Busy actress: Nicole can currently be seen in the limited series The Undoing, and has wrapped another adaptation of a Liane Moriarty book, titled Nine Perfect Strangers; seen in 2020

Busy actress: Nicole can currently be seen in the limited series The Undoing, and has wrapped another adaptation of a Liane Moriarty book, titled Nine Perfect Strangers; seen in 2020

Fathoms below: Skyfall actor Bardem will next be seen in October‘s sci-fi epic Dune, and is currently filming Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid in the role of King Triton; seen in 2020

Fathoms below: Skyfall actor Bardem will next be seen in October‘s sci-fi epic Dune, and is currently filming Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid in the role of King Triton; seen in 2020