The project was previously in development with Cate Blanchett set to star, though it’s unclear why the two-time Oscar winner dropped out.
Just a month after entering talks with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem for its central roles, Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming biographical drama Being the Ricardos is continuing to build its ensemble cast as J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and Nina Arianda (Goliath) have begun negotiations to star in the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sources previously reported that Sorkin originally did not intend to direct the project, only write, but after enjoying the directing experience on the Netflix-acquired historical drama elected to take the director’s chair this past summer.
The film is set to be produced by Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, with Escape’s Jenna Block and David Bloomfield, Stuart Besser, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lauren Lohman all attached to the project as executive producers.