Sydney Sweeney, David Jonsson in Talks to Play Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr. in Love Affair Drama Directed by Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo is set to make his feature directorial debut with “Scandalous,” a period drama about the 1950s romance between movie star Kim Novak and singer Sammy Davis Jr., and the bigoted scrutiny that the pair faced once their relationship came to light. Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson are in talks to play the two leads.
Miramax is working to fast track the project, which remains in early stages of development. Producers have hopes to shoot next year after Domingo and Sweeney have finished filming the third season of HBO’s “Euphoria.”
More from Variety
As it went, Novak and Davis first connected when they both appeared as guests on “The Steve Allen Show” in 1956. The two continued to meet, with Davis making visits to the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” during the next year. They met again at a Thanksgiving charity ball in California, which led to the pair spending the holidays together. Harry Cohn, head of Columbia Pictures where Novak was under contract, voiced unease about their relationship.
The romance exploded into the public eye when a Chicago columnist published an account of Davis and Novak’s relationship in 1958, claiming the two could soon be married. Novak issued a public denial of the account. Days later, Davis married Loray White, a Black chorus singer. The couple’s union lasted one year. Novak married white actor Richard Johnson in 1965. The two later divorced, with Novak married Robert Malloy in 1976. The pair remained together until Malloy’s death in 2021. Novak is now 91 years old. Davis died in 1990 at the age of 64.
Domingo has helmed episodes of television before, but “Scandalous” would mark his first feature film behind the camera. Sweeney is coming off of the Glen Powell rom-com “Anyone but You,” Sony’s Marvel spin-off “Madame Web” and the indie horror feature “Immaculate.” She is currently shooting a biopic about boxer Christy Martin ahead of a planned return to “Euphoria” in 2025. Jonsson most recently appeared in “Alien: Romulus,” with other credits including the romance “Rye Lane” and a main role across the first two seasons of HBO’s “Industry.”
Deadline was first to report news of the project.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
