'Being the Ricardos' Release Date, Cast and Trailer: What We Know About Nicole Kidman's Movie

Being the Ricardos is the highly anticipated biopic about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the creators and stars of the influential and much-loved 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy.

The film is written and directed by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin and stars Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Ball and Arnaz. Newsweek has everything you need to know about the film, including release date, cast, trailer, plot and more.

When Is 'Being the Ricardos' Released?

Being the Ricardos will be released in theaters on Friday, December 10, for a limited time only.

Just 11 days later, on December 21, the film will be available to stream and download via Amazon Prime Video.

So, if you can't get to a theater to see Being the Ricardos, you can catch the film on the small screen by signing up to Amazon Prime.

After a 30-day free trial, Amazon Prime Video costs $7.99 per month.

Who Stars in 'Being the Ricardos'?

Two Oscar-winning actors lead the cast of Being the Ricardos.

Kidman stars as the actress, comedian, model, studio executive and producer Lucille Ball.

Dune star Bardem plays Ball's husband Desi Arnaz, a Cuban-American actor, musician, bandleader, comedian and producer.

J.K Simmons, also an Oscar winner, takes on the role of actor William Frawley and Tony winner Nina Arianda portrays actress and singer Vivian Vance. Frawley and Vance played Fred and Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy.

The cast also includes two Arrested Development co-stars, playing writers on I Love Lucy: Tony Hale is head writer and producer Jess Oppenheimer and Alia Shawkat plays writer Madelyn Pugh.

The Office actor Jake Lacy takes on the role of another I Love Lucy writer, Bob Carroll Jr.

Also in the cast are Avengers actor Clark Gregg, Nelson Franklin, John Rubinstein, Linda Lavin, Robert Pine and Christopher Denham.

What Is 'Being the Ricardos' About?

Being the Ricardos will take place over one week during the filming of I Love Lucy, which ran for six years between October 1951 and May 1957 and won five Emmy awards.

In the movie, Ball and Arnaz will encounter a crisis that could ruin not only their careers but also their marriage.

The official synopsis released by Amazon says the couple "are threatened by shocking personal accusations, a political smear and cultural taboos" in the behind-the-scenes drama.

It adds: "A revealing glimpse of the couple's complex romantic and professional relationship, the film takes audiences into the writers' room, onto the soundstage and behind closed doors with Ball and Arnaz during one critical production week of their groundbreaking sitcom I Love Lucy."

being the ricardos nicole kidman
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star in Being the Ricardos Amazon Prime Video

Is There a Trailer for 'Being the Ricardos'?

A teaser trailer for Being the Ricardos has been released, giving fans their first look at Kidman as Ball and Bardem as Arnaz on the set of their sitcom.

The trailer does not give away too much, but does hint that things may not be as good as they seem for the showbiz couple.

As the trailer comes to an end, Kidman can be heard saying: "You know, I did this show so me and Desi could be together. I had no idea it was going to be a hit."

Being the Ricardos is coming to theaters on Friday, December 10, and streaming on Amazon Prime Video from Tuesday, December 21.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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