Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem transform into Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz filming biopic

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were virtually unrecognizable whilst filming their new movie in Los Angeles this week.

The dynamic duo are playing Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in an upcoming biopic called Being The Ricardos written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. 

While in character Nicole, 53, was impeccably throwback chic in an outfit that included bright yellow perfectly pressed slacks.

Looking fab: Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were virtually unrecognizable whilst filming their new movie in Los Angeles this week

She buttoned a multicolored checked blazer over her top and modeled a pair of sleek burnt orange loafers perfectly suited to the 1950s period.

Nicole even had Lucy’s red hairdo although in a nod to the era’s fashion tics she kept it largely concealed underneath a print silk scarf.

She could be seen lighting up a cigarette while leaning against a car – a true-to-life touch as Lucy herself was a lifelong smoker.

In fact Phillip Morris had a product placement deal on I Love Lucy and Lucy and Desi would cut ads for them together in character.

Hard at work: The dynamic duo are playing Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in an upcoming biopic called Being The Ricardos written and directed by Aaron Sorkin

Hard at work: The dynamic duo are playing Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in an upcoming biopic called Being The Ricardos written and directed by Aaron Sorkin

What a look: While in character Nicole, 53, was impeccably throwback chic in an outfit that included bright yellow perfectly pressed slacks

What a look: While in character Nicole, 53, was impeccably throwback chic in an outfit that included bright yellow perfectly pressed slacks

Looking fab: She buttoned a multicolored checked blazer over her top and modeled a pair of sleek burnt orange loafers perfectly suited to the 1950s period

Looking fab: She buttoned a multicolored checked blazer over her top and modeled a pair of sleek burnt orange loafers perfectly suited to the 1950s period

Meanwhile Javier disappeared into the role of Desi in a splashy tuxedo with an eye-popping green jacket redolent of his character’s real life style. 

The Vicky Christina Barcelona heartthrob left his top button beguilingly undone and wore his bowtie open during his scene.

He and Nicole were filming their scene between two vintage cars that quintessentially evoked the film’s setting.

Although Lucy and Desi had a stormy marriage culminating in a divorce the scene being filmed seemed to show a happier moment in the relationship.

Meanwhile: Javier disappeared into the role of Desi in a splashy tuxedo with an eye-popping green jacket redolent of his character's real life style

Meanwhile: Javier disappeared into the role of Desi in a splashy tuxedo with an eye-popping green jacket redolent of his character’s real life style

Looking fab: The Vicky Christina Barcelona heartthrob left his top button beguilingly undone and wore his bowtie open during his scene

Looking fab: The Vicky Christina Barcelona heartthrob left his top button beguilingly undone and wore his bowtie open during his scene

Fab: He and Nicole were filming their scene between two vintage cars that quintessentially evoked the film's setting

Fab: He and Nicole were filming their scene between two vintage cars that quintessentially evoked the film’s setting

Incidentally: Although Lucy and Desi had a stormy marriage culminating in a divorce the scene being filmed seemed to show a happier moment in the relationship

All that sweet affection: Nicole and Javier could be seen warmly embracing each other in character and at other points were seen smiling and laughing

Incidentally: Although Lucy and Desi had a stormy marriage culminating in a divorce the scene being filmed seemed to show a happier moment in the relationship

Nicole and Javier could be seen warmly embracing each other in character and at other points were seen smiling and laughing. 

The title Being The Ricardos refers to the last name of the family Lucy and Desi played on their pioneering sitcom. 

Rumors began flying around at the beginning of the year that Nicole had been cast as Lucille Ball opposite Javier as Desi Arnaz. 

The reports led to a good bit of controversy over her casting and prompted Debra Messing to aggressively pitch herself for the role on Twitter.

By the way: The title Being The Ricardos refers to the last name of the family Lucy and Desi played on their pioneering sitcom

By the way: The title Being The Ricardos refers to the last name of the family Lucy and Desi played on their pioneering sitcom

Looking back: Rumors began flying around at the beginning of the year that Nicole had been cast as Lucille Ball opposite Javier as Desi Arnaz

Looking back: Rumors began flying around at the beginning of the year that Nicole had been cast as Lucille Ball opposite Javier as Desi Arnaz

Debra retweeted a string of Twitter users saying that she would be better suited to the project – including fellow sitcom star Valerie Bertinelli.

While plugging herself for the part Debra also retweeted fans who brought up her tribute to I Love Lucy on the last season of Will And Grace.

During that tribute Debra got all dressed up as Lucille’s sitcom character Lucy Ricardo to recreate some of her bits, including her ad for Vitameatavegamin and her flailing attempts to work the assembly line at a chocolate factory. 

However Nicole’s casting was defended by Lucille and Desi’s daughter Lucie Arnaz who posted a Facebook video giving her two cents. 

Remember when: The reports led to a good bit of controversy over her casting and prompted Debra Messing to aggressively pitch herself for the role on Twitter

Remember when: The reports led to a good bit of controversy over her casting and prompted Debra Messing to aggressively pitch herself for the role on Twitter

Lucie acknowledged: ‘There seems to be a lot of discussion about Nicole Kidman. “It should be Debra Messing!” “It should be Carole Cook!” I don’t know.’ 

However she noted that ‘We are not doing a remake of I Love Lucy. No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo, nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things.’

Lucie stated: ‘It’s the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband Desi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo. There will be humor in the film but it is a story of the two of them, and how they met, and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong – their relationship, their love affair.’ 

She concluded her message by encouraging the fans to ‘Just trust us. It’s gonna be a nice film. And P.S. the voting is over. I love all of you.’

'Lucille ball...not Lucy Ricardo': However Nicole's casting was defended by Lucille and Desi's daughter Lucie Arnaz who posted a Facebook video giving her two cents

‘Lucille ball…not Lucy Ricardo’: However Nicole’s casting was defended by Lucille and Desi’s daughter Lucie Arnaz who posted a Facebook video giving her two cents

Aaron Sorkin is writing and directing the upcoming biopic Being The Ricardos for Amazon after his streaming success with The Trial Of The Chicago 7 for Netflix.

Desi, who played Lucy’s bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo on their program, had a tumultuous marriage to her in real life. 

She filed for divorce for the first time in 1944, reportedly over his philandering and drinking, but they got back together before splitting up permanently in 1960.

In the meantime they produced two children and the sitcom that etched them into TV legend, running from 1951 to 1957.

History: Desi, who played Lucy's bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo on their program, had a tumultuous marriage to her in real life

History: Desi, who played Lucy’s bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo on their program, had a tumultuous marriage to her in real life

They also starred in movies together throughout their marriage, including Forever, Darling and the Vincente Minnelli comedy The Long, Long Trailer.

Despite their divorce, in which she called their marriage ‘a nightmare,’ Lucy and Desi remained publicly amicable for the rest of his life.

Lucy married Borscht Belt comic Gary Morton in 1961 and stayed with him until her death in 1989, while Desi married one Edith Hirsch in 1963.

Ups and downs: Lucy filed for divorce for the first time in 1944, reportedly over Desi's philandering and drinking, but they got back together before splitting up permanently in 1960

Ups and downs: Lucy filed for divorce for the first time in 1944, reportedly over Desi’s philandering and drinking, but they got back together before splitting up permanently in 1960

Edith and Desi both died of cancer one year apart – she passed on in 1985 and her husband, who loved cigars from his native Cuba, succumbed to lung cancer in 1986. 

Aaron Sorkin’s new biopic is about a single week spent making an episode of I Love Lucy during which Lucy and Desi’s marriage is shaken.

The turbulent week, reportedly running from the table read to the taping in front of a studio audience, is said to include a professional landmine for the couple as well.