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Lucille Ball’s Daughter Reveals How Her Parents Would Feel About the ‘Theatrical License’ Taken in New Biopic

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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz continue to put smiles on countless faces decades after the premiere of their timeless sitcom, I Love Lucy. However, a new movie will focus on more dramatic behind-the-scenes moments between the real-life couple. Their daughter, Lucie Arnaz, recently opened up about how her parents would really feel about the flick — and how their spirits intervened when the truth got stretched a bit too far. 

The movie, Being the Ricardos, is written and directed by The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and stars Nicole Kidman as Lucille and Javier Bardem as Desi. Few details have been released about the plot, but it takes place during a week of filming the show when Lucille and Desi are met with a “crisis that could jeopardize their careers and marriage.” 

Despite being an executive producer (along with her brother, Desi Arnaz Jr.), Lucie revealed there were times she struggled with wanting to change some of the fictionalized storylines. “I mean, there are certain scenes that I wished hadn’t been in the feature film,” she told Palm Springs Life. “I couldn’t get my way and have them taken out, but they weren’t accurate. I thought, ‘That shouldn’t be in there because that never happened.’ And it’s not just theatrical license, it just wasn’t true.”

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz filming 'I Love Lucy'
Getty Images

Although she didn’t explain what was going on in that scene, Lucie believes her parents stepped in and set things straight from beyond. “The day they shot the scene, the sprinklers went off on the set and destroyed the whole set,” she said. Does that remind anyone else of something Lucy Ricardo would do to get her way on the classic series? 

Aside from the aforementioned issue, Lucie seems happy with how the film will turn out — even with other creative liberties being taken. “Stuff happens that week that didn’t happen altogether the way Aaron has written it. He’s taking some theatrical license and sort of cramming a couple of true events that did happen, they just didn’t happen at the same time,” she explains. “But you do learn a lot about what it was like back then. His dialogue is always incredible. And I think he treated my mother and my father really well. I think they are accurate composites of these people. And what I’ve seen of it… I haven’t seen any of the rushes, but I was on the set for just two days. What I saw was extraordinarily classy and first rate.”

Lucie was also impressed by Kidman’s performance as her mother, saying the actress did a “spectacular job.” In fact, she had high praises for the whole cast. “There are no look-a-likes. I mean, nobody was cast because they look exactly like somebody,” she explained. “They were cast because they’re spectacular performers, actors, and they can capture the basic essence of what has been written in this script. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product.” We can’t wait to watch, too!

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