Though Being the Ricardos had a lot going for it ahead of its release, the movie hasn’t been without some controversy. Kidman’s casting drew much debate even just before the premiere, with some viewers doubting whether she looked the part or could handle some of Ball’s comedic mannerisms. Additionally, the hiring of Bardem to play a Cuban-American man when he himself is Spanish led to even more criticism. Being the Ricardos has since earned mixed reviews and some awards nominations for its stars.
Regardless of how one feels about Kidman’s depiction of Ball, there’s little question that deepfake technology can go a long way in making any person fit into the shoes of another. Created by Deep Homage, a new video takes clips from I Love Lucy and makes Kidman the star of the show. Though perhaps not perfect, it does offer a slightly better resemblance between the two actresses. Check it out below.
Criticisms aside, Kidman puts on an excellent performance in Being the Ricardos. The pressure of playing Lucille Ball weighed heavily on Kidman and nearly led to her pulling out, but it’s nice to see she persevered. Being the Ricardos would look vastly different without her, and though some Ball enthusiasts might have some qualms about how Kidman’s performance turned out, she certainly gave it her all. No deepfake tech required.
