What's Inside?
- Kim Novak strongly rejects Sydney Sweeney’s casting, fearing the role will lean too heavily on sexuality rather than emotional depth.
- Sydney Sweeney says she feels “incredibly honored” and relates to Novak’s struggles with Hollywood scrutiny and image control.
- 'Scandalous!', directed by Colman Domingo and co-starring David Jonsson, explores Novak’s complex 1950s relationship with Sammy Davis Jr..
The upcoming biopic Scandalous! has sparked a striking divide between legacy and modern stardom. Kim Novak has openly pushed back against Sydney Sweeney portraying her, raising concerns that sparked casting debates.
Set against the backdrop of 1950s America, the film explores Novak’s relationship with Sammy Davis Jr., a story shaped by social tension and intense scrutiny. While the project promises emotional depth, Novak fears the essence of that relationship could be lost in translation, especially with a casting choice she finds fundamentally misaligned.
Kim Novak Is Not Happy With Sydney Sweeney’s Casting Choice To Play Her
Reflecting on Scandalous!, Kim Novak said she would have “never approved” of the direction the film appears to be taking. Her criticism centres on how Sydney Sweeney embodies a certain image that, in Novak’s view, shifts the focus away from emotional truth.
“I would never have approved,” Novak said, adding that the Anyone But You star “sticks out so much above the waist.” She went further, questioning the film’s likely tone. “There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time. She was totally wrong to play me.”
Kim Novak says Sydney Sweeney is “totally wrong” to portray her in the upcoming drama film ‘SCANDALOUS,’ which centers on her relationship with Sammy Davis Jr.
“There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time. She was totally… pic.twitter.com/ySxtlWC6Qk
— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 28, 2026
Novak insists her bond with Davis was grounded in shared experiences and mutual understanding. The fear is that the film could reduce a layered relationship into something more superficial. Given the era, their connection existed under immense public pressure, shaped by racial barriers and rigid studio control. Novak believes that nuance risks being overshadowed.
The project itself has notable backing. Directed by Colman Domingo and co-starring David Jonsson, the film has been positioned as both intimate and culturally significant.
Sydney Sweeney Was Excited To Meet Kim Novak Before Playing Her Character
On the other side, Sweeney has approached the role with enthusiasm. She has described the opportunity as deeply meaningful, signalling a desire to honour Novak’s legacy rather than reshape it. Speaking about the project, she previously told PEOPLE, “I’m incredibly honored to be bringing Kim to life. I mean, she is such an amazing actress.”
Sweeney has expressed a personal connection to Novak’s experiences within Hollywood’s demanding ecosystem. “I think her story is still very relevant today in that she dealt with Hollywood and scrutiny with her relationships and her own private life and the control of her image,” she explained. “And I think that for me, I relate to it in a lot of different ways.”
There was also anticipation surrounding a potential meeting between the two. “Once I finish Euphoria, I switch into Scandalous! gear and I’m going to turn my brain into Kim,” Sweeney said. “I’m so excited. I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I’m going to meet Kim Novak.’ ”
Even earlier, she hinted at behind-the-scenes efforts to bridge that gap. “Colman and her have a really beautiful relationship,” she noted. “They’ve been talking. We connected them, so it’s been really cool.”
As of now, Sweeney has not responded to Kim’s comment on her playing her character in the movie.
