J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda join Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Amazon’s Being the Ricardos

J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda join Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Amazon Studios’ Being the Ricardos

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem have gotten a pair of new co-stars in their Amazon Studios film Being the Ricardos, with J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda signing on.

Kidman and Bardem will play I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the series, with Simmons and Arianda playing William Frawley and Vivian Vance, via Deadline.

Frawley and Vance played Fred Mertz and Ethel Mertz, the neighbors of Ball and Arnaz’s characters Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, in the series, which ran from 1951-1957.

New cast: Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem have gotten a pair of new co-stars in their Amazon Studios film Being the Ricardos, with J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda signing on

New cast: Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem have gotten a pair of new co-stars in their Amazon Studios film Being the Ricardos, with J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda signing on

Neighbors: Kidman and Bardem will play I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the series, with Simmons and Arianda playing William Frawley and Vivian Vance, via Deadline

Neighbors: Kidman and Bardem will play I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the series, with Simmons and Arianda playing William Frawley and Vivian Vance, via Deadline 

The film is set during one full week of production on I Love Lucy, from the Monday table read through the Friday audience taping.

The plot follows Lucy and Desi as they face a ‘crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.’

Sources add that Arianda’s deal has not yet closed, with both Kidman and Bardem in ‘final negotiations.’  

Week of Production: The film is set during one full week of production on I Love Lucy, from the Monday table read through the Friday audience taping

Week of Production: The film is set during one full week of production on I Love Lucy, from the Monday table read through the Friday audience taping

Negotiations: Sources add that Arianda's deal has not yet closed, with both Kidman and Bardem in 'final negotiations'

Negotiations: Sources add that Arianda’s deal has not yet closed, with both Kidman and Bardem in ‘final negotiations’

Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7) is directing from his own screenplay with Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch producing.

Ball and Arnaz’s children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., are serving as executive producers with Jenna Block, David Bloomfield, Stuart Besser and Lauren Lohman.

There is no indication when production will begin on this new movie, or when Amazon Studios plans on releasing it.

Busy: Simmons is keeping busy with The Stand and Defending Jacob last year, along with BoJack Horseman and a guest-starring spot on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Busy: Simmons is keeping busy with The Stand and Defending Jacob last year, along with BoJack Horseman and a guest-starring spot on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Simmons is keeping busy with The Stand and Defending Jacob last year, along with BoJack Horseman and a guest-starring spot on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. 

He’ll next be seen as Commissioner Gordon in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which is debuting on HBO Max in March.

He also stars in the upcoming TV series Invincible and The Tomorrow War, and he’s currently filming Seal Team. 

In demand: Simmons is keeping busy with The Stand and Defending Jacob last year, along with BoJack Horseman and a guest-starring spot on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

In demand: Simmons is keeping busy with The Stand and Defending Jacob last year, along with BoJack Horseman and a guest-starring spot on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Arianda is coming off roles in Billions and Goliath and the 2019 film Richard Jewell.

She will next voice Fancy in the upcoming animated movie The Adventures of Drunky. 

She also starred in Stan & Ollie.

Coming soon: Arianda is coming off roles in Billions and Goliath and the 2019 film Richard Jewell

Coming soon: Arianda is coming off roles in Billions and Goliath and the 2019 film Richard Jewell