KIM Novak has detonated a fresh casting row by slamming Sydney Sweeney as “totally wrong” to play her in Scandalous and insisting she would “never have approved.”
The 93-year-old screen legend tore into the decision in a new interview, saying Sydney “sticks out so much above the waist” and warning the film risks reducing her romance with Sammy Davis Jr. to sex appeal.
That is when things got tense.
Kim said there was “no way” the relationship would not be shown as sexual because “Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time.”
The film centres on Novak’s 1950s relationship with Davis, a romance that triggered fierce tabloid scrutiny at the time because they were an interracial couple. Now the project faces fresh pressure before cameras even roll.
And it did not stop there. Kim made clear she believes the casting misses the heart of what she and Davis shared, saying they had “so much in common” beyond the headlines.
Sydney had already praised the role, calling it an “incredibly honoured” opportunity and saying she relates to Novak’s battles with Hollywood scrutiny and image control. But insiders say Kim’s public rejection has thrown an uncomfortable shadow over the film.
David Jonsson is attached to play Sammy Davis Jr., with Colman Domingo directing. And now the fallout is far from over.
Key Points
- Kim Novak publicly criticizes Sydney Sweeney as "totally wrong" to portray her in Scandalous
- Novak warns the casting sexualizes her Sammy Davis Jr. romance, overlooking their deeper, shared connection
- Controversy clouds production despite Sweeney's praise and attachments David Jonsson and Colman Domingo
Why They're In The News
Why This Matters
Novak’s public rebuke matters because it raises questions about historical accuracy, respect for lived experience and the portrayal of interracial relationships, potentially shaping public perception, press coverage and the film’s credibility before production even begins.
