Kim Novak Slams Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Totally Wrong’ Casting in Scandalous!
Hollywood legend Kim Novak is speaking out against the upcoming film Scandalous! and its casting of Sydney Sweeney to play her, calling the choice “totally wrong.” She expressed concern over how the movie will depict her historic relationship with Sammy Davis Jr.
Kim Novak ‘would never have approved’ Sydney Sweeney’s Scandalous! casting
In a recent interview with The Times of London, the 92-year-old Vertigo star expressed her disappointment with the project, which is set to explore her romance with Davis in the 1950s. Colman Domingo is attached to direct the film in his directorial debut, with David Jonsson playing Davis.
“I would never have approved,” Kim Novak said of Sydney Sweeney taking on the role. The actress’s criticism stems largely from concerns that the film will prioritize the sexual aspects of her relationship with Davis rather than the genuine connection they shared.
Furthermore, Novak elaborated on her objections, pointing to Sweeney’s public image as a factor that could skew the film’s focus. “She sticks out so much above the waist,” Novak quipped, adding, “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.” The Anyone but You star has not publicly responded to Novak’s comments.
While Novak remains critical of the casting, Sweeney has previously expressed admiration for the woman she is set to play. In October 2025, she told People that she feels “incredibly honored” to lead the film. “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,” Sweeney said. “And I think that for me, I relate to it in a lot of different ways.”
Scandalous! was first announced in October 2024, with Sweeney bringing Domingo on board after the pair previously worked together on HBO’s Euphoria. Sweeney also is a producer on the project.
Source: Comingsoon.net