Kim Novak has raised concerns about the upcoming biopic Scandalous!, which stars Sydney Sweeney as Novak. The actress feels uneasy about how her real-life romance with Sammy Davis Jr. will be depicted on screen.
Veteran actress ‘concerned’ about Sydney Sweeney’s new movie
Kim Novak has spoken out about the upcoming biopic drama Scandalous!, in which Sydney Sweeney will portray her and David Jonsson will play Sammy Davis Jr. In a recent interview with The Guardian, the 92-year-old actress expressed concern about the direction of the project, particularly its portrayal of her relationship with Davis.
“I don’t think the relationship was scandalous,” Novak said describing Davis as someone she “really cared about.” She added, “We had so much in common, including that need to be accepted for who we are and what we do, rather than how we look.” The actress stated her main concern is that the story will be exaggerated for “sexual reasons.” She said, “But I’m concerned they’re going to make it all sexual reasons.”
The project marks the directorial debut of Colman Domingo and is being produced by Miramax with a planned release in 2026. The film will depict Novak and Davis’s brief relationship in the late 1950s. The two first met in 1956 during an appearance on The Steve Allen Show and soon began dating.
However, Columbia Pictures co-founder Harry Cohn objected, claiming that Novak’s involvement with a Black man would hurt the studio’s profits. Davis was even threatened with violence by the mob unless the relationship ended. The couple separated not long after (via Deadline).
Alongside the film, Novak is currently being honored at the Venice Film Festival. She has received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The festival is also hosting the premiere of Kim Novak’s Vertigo, a new documentary directed by Alexandre Philippe and made in collaboration with Novak herself.
