Amazon Studios has acquired Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming Lucille Ball biopic, in which Cate Blanchett is in talks to star as the late actress.
TheWrap reported two years ago that Blanchett was attached to star. Sorkin is penning the script, while Escape Artists Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.
This marks Amazon’s second solo distribution title following last week’s announcement that the company had acquired Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel.” For previous projects, Amazon Studios co-distributed with other companies. “The Big Sick,” for example, was co-distributed with Lionsgate, while “Manchester By The Sea” was co-distributed with Roadside Attractions.
The film will chronicle Ball’s 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on the classic TV sitcom “I Love Lucy.” Ball had two children with Arnaz before they divorced in 1960. She married Gary Morton the following year.
Blanchett won the first of two Academy Awards for playing another Hollywood icon, Katharine Hepburn, in Martin Scorsese‘s “The Aviator.” She was also applauded for her performance in Todd Haynes’ “Carol,” for which she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.
She will next star in “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Ocean’s Eight” and “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” She is represented by CAA and Wolf-Kasteler Public Relations.
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Sorkin last wrote the screenplay for “Steve Jobs” and is the writer and director on Jessica Chastain’s “Molly’s Game,” which is looking at a release in November. He is represented by CAA and PMK*BNC.
No director has been announced as of yet for the project.