Cate Blanchett Is The Perfect Choice To Play Lucille Ball

Quite frankly, if there's one actor you want bringing some of Hollywood's most classic icons to the big screen, it's Cate Blanchett. Deadline reported that Blanchett would portray comedian Lucille Ball in a new biopic that would fully examine her life and career. That news is a delight, but not a surprise. Why not? Because Blanchett is a true Hollywood power player and as such, only she could accurately imbue that sense of ambition, power, visionary focus, and high level of gumption that Ball, a Hollywood power play in her own right, had back in the 1950s and 1960s.

This planned biopic of Ball's life will be, according to Deadline's report, penned by the inimitable dramatist Aaron Sorkin (of West Wing fame) and will head to Amazon. Blanchett will, of course, play Ball and rumor has it that Javier Bardem will play Desi Arnaz, Ball's husband and co-star on the hit TV show I Love Lucy. Additionally, Deadline reports that Ball's children are assisting on this film which will explore the "tempestuous love/business relationship between Arnaz and Ball, whose production company launched such series as Star Trek." Interestingly, the film will also be able to use material from the respective memoirs of Ball and Arnaz, which means that there will be plenty of juicy personal history for the film to discuss.

Given the prestigious, high-profile nature of this biopic, it's hardly shocking that Blanchett would have been cast in the lead role. First off, she's a whiz at portraying iconic Hollywood power players (or have you forgotten she expertly played Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator?). Secondly, Blanchett is at the top of her game right now. She's joined the MCU as the main villain in Thor: Ragnarok; she's also set to make her directing debut with the TV series Stateless. Finally, it's hardly inaccurate to say that Blanchett is who comes to mind when you think of actors who are go-to's for prestige roles, and who can portray real-life figures with such accuracy that it's excitingly unnerving.

This makes her the perfect fit as Ball. Back in the waning days of the Golden Era of Hollywood, Ball herself was one of the most powerful women in the business. After working her way up from theatre and supporting roles, she starred in I Love Lucy — a game-changer for her career — and went on to found Desilu Productions. She ran that studio with Arnaz (whom she later divorced) and for a majority of her life, remained at the top of the list of people who were creative innovators in film and TV.

Basically, this is casting heaven. When it comes to Blanchett as Ball, there can only be good results and the chance to see one power player portray another is definitely an exciting prospect.