“Lucy vs. the FBI” sounds like the title of one of the wackier episodes of I Love Lucy. But in fact, actress and comedian Lucille Ball underwent a real-life conflict with the federal government at the height of producing her iconic sitcom.

In the early 1950s, Ball was under investigation by the House of Un-American Activities Committee for potential ties to Communism. And that’s just one of the conflicts swirling around in the new film Being the Ricardos. 

Being the Ricardos - newspaper headline reading "Lucille Ball A Red"

The feature chronicles a tumultuous five days on the set of I Love Lucy in September 1952. During this time, Ball and her husband and co-producer Desi Arnaz faced a media onslaught on two fronts; in addition to the PR nightmare of being labeled a Communist during the Cold War, a tabloid published a spread titled “Desi’s Wild Night Out.”

Being the Ricardos explores these conflicts and how they affected the relationship between Ball and Arnaz… and how the pair’s beloved sitcom played a part, too.

Check out the trailer for the film below.

The film features a stacked cast and creative team. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, it stars Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javiar Bardem as Desi Arnaz. Additional stars include Jake Lacy, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, and Alia Shawkat.

Here’s the official description of Being the Ricardos:

Lucille Ball (Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Bardem) are threatened by shocking personal accusations, a political smear, and cultural taboos in Academy Award-winning writer and director Aaron Sorkin’s behind-the-scenes drama Being the Ricardos. A revealing glimpse of the couple’s complex romantic and professional relationship, the film takes audiences into the writers’ room, onto the soundstage, and behind closed doors with Ball and Arnaz during one critical production week of their groundbreaking sitcom I Love Lucy.

Being the Ricardos premieres in theaters December 10 and on Amazon Prime Video December 21.

Being the Ricardos poster

So, what do you think of the Being the Ricardos trailer? Are you ready to see a whole new side of I Love Lucy? Let us know in the comments below.

Meanwhile, check back to THS for more updates.

Source: Prime Video