Cate Blanchett Will Play Lucille Ball in an Aaron Sorkin Biopic

One of Hollywood's best dramatic actresses will take on one of history's funniest women. TheWrap reports (opens in new tab) that Cate Blanchett will portray comedy icon Lucille Ball in a biopic written by Aaron Sorkin.

The film will focus on Ball's marriage to Desi Arnaz, her costar on I Love Lucy. (No word on who will play Arnaz yet.) The couple had two children before divorcing in 1960. After they split, Ball bought Arnaz's share (opens in new tab) of Desilu Productions, which made her the first woman ever to run a major production company on her own. The project has been authorized by the couple's children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr, who will both serve as producers. 

Sorkin, who has written biopics of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, was immediately the target of criticism over the project, since he's been called out for not writing well-rounded female characters. In fact, he once said Blanchett didn't have as much "difficulty" winning her Oscar than the men who were nominated that year. E! News reports (opens in new tab) that the studio wants him for the project, but he hasn't officially signed on. 

Reps for Blanchett and Sorkin haven't commented, but the project has Oscar written all over it. The resemblance might not be uncanny between Blanchett and Ball, but if Blanchett can convincingly play Bob Dylan, Lucille Ball will be a breeze.