Something about the awards season doesn't feel right unless Cate Blanchett is up for some gold, and lately it seems everything she does is a potential contender. After winning Best Actress for Blue Jasmine a couple of years ago, not to mention her Best Supporting Actress win for The Aviator in 2004, Blanchett is back this year with Todd Haynes' Carol, which is already receiving Oscar buzz. Now she's lined up another major role, one that is guaranteed to draw similar attention as it has her playing legendary comedienne and actress, Lucille Ball.
While Blanchett in the role of Lucille Ball is reason enough for high expectations, throw in a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and the potential goes meteoric. The fully authorized biopic will center on the rocky 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, her co-star on I Love Lucy. Lucy Arnaz Jr. and Desi Arnaz Jr. are on board as producers.
On paper this seems like a match made in movie heaven. Sorkin has proven just as good at writing about real-life figures as Blanchett is at portraying him. It was her performance as Katherine Hepburn that earned her the gold for The Aviator, after all. She's also played Bob Dylan, Veronica Guerin, Queen Elizabeth, and will play 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes in the Rathergate drama, Truth, which also has Oscars potential.
No word on a director yet but you can bet it's going to be a major name that comes aboard. [TheWrap]
