Kidman is in negotiations with Javier Bardem, who would play Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos”, Sorkin’s film that will follow a tumultuous week during the making of “I Love Lucy”.
Although Debra Messing brought Lucille Ball to life in a recent episode of “Will & Grace”, the Emmy winner was sitting on her side when the news was released on Monday that Nicole Kidman was in negotiations to take the place of comedy icon.
It is a long-term project by Aaron Sorkin that has already had Cate Blanchett linked to the star, who is also notably not Debra Messing. Now called “Being the Ricardos”, Deadline reports that Javier Bardem is in negotiations to assume the role of Ball’s husband, Desi Arnaz.

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The project will be written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, so try to walk and talk a lot as we follow the titular couple through a wild week of production on their innovative sitcom, “I Love Lucy”.
To make things more interesting, Ball and Arnaz are supposed to “face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage,” according to Deadline.
Almost immediately, Messing and his fans started to scratch their heads and send the bugle on Twitter that she would be the perfect choice to bring the comedy legend to life.
She even practically has a test roll for the role, as “Will & Grace” took a deep dive into the world of Ricardos as part of her final season, which ended just last year.

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In this episode, the cast took Lucy through several classic passages alternating roles, with Messing entering the hilarious commercial Vitameatavegamin drunk.
“The insanity of not climbing @DebraMessing to play Lucille Ball is difficult for this project,” said one of the dozens and dozens and dozens of tweets that Messing shared on Monday afternoon and evening. “They have some ‘splainin’ to do.”
A fan who agreed with the feelings wrote that they were “choosing to believe” that she “was not available or something”. But Messing quickly intruded on this, replying, “Oh, no. I’m available.”

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Oh no, I’m available. https://t.co/SO8eMkSkz4
– Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) January 12, 2021
@DebraMessing
Debra Messing was stolen. https://t.co/jD4gsp8DpZ
– Valerie Bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) January 11, 2021
@Wolfiesmom
I would go with Messing. ❤️
– Kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) January 11, 2021
@thekjohnston
Even some of her famous friends supported her, with Valerie Bertinelli tweeting, “Debra Messing was stolen.” When someone suggested that Kristen Johnston was the obvious choice, the “3rd Rock from the Sun” star responded hilariously, “I would go with Messing.”
A fan found a quote from Messing from last year, where she said she would never play Lucy, calling the comedian “untouchable”.
For that, Messing only managed to laugh and say that he changed his mind. Maybe knowing that the project is going on and seeing so many people who think she can do it – and after being a little bit involved in that world – she is feeling more confident in herself.

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Ummmmmm, I changed my mind. 😜 https://t.co/qHCncU4DdN
– Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) January 12, 2021
@DebraMessing
Oh Luuvie! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩 https://t.co/9pt1q5S5fh
– Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) January 12, 2021
@DebraMessing
❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/rocZIkviQG
– Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) January 12, 2021
@DebraMessing
Of course, Deadline is only reporting that Kidman and Bardem are in negotiations for the role, so the door has not yet closed entirely for Messing. She is certainly doing her part to keep it open!
With the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting production schedules again, there is no set start date for the production of “Being the Ricardos”. The film is currently set on Amazon with the sons of Arnaz and Ball involved as executive producers.
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