Sydney Sweeney Starring in Colman Domingo’s ‘Scandalous’

‘Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson will co-star in the movie about a clandestine love affair between movie stars Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.

(left) Oscar® nominee Colman Domingo arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Center) Sydney Sweeney talks 'Immaculate.' (Left) David Jonsson at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel. Photo: Disney.

Preview:

Sydney Sweeney will play Kim Novak in ‘Scandalous.’
David Jonsson is on board to co-star as Sammy Davis Jr.
Colman Domingo is directing the drama.

Colman Domingo’s career has been developing in leaps and bounds in the last few years, driven by work on the likes of ‘Euphoria’ and his Oscar-nominated film performances such as ‘Rustin.’

The actor has also turned his hand to directing, shooting three episodes of ‘Fear the Walking Dead.’ And he’s spinning that experience behind the camera into feature work, with one movie in development (more on that below) and now, via Deadline, an exciting new project with ‘Euphoria’ co-star Sydney Sweeney.

‘Scandalous,’ which focuses on the love affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr., began life with producer Jon Glickman (who is currently CEO of Miramax), has now become a movie that Sweeney is pushing forward alongside producers Tani Cohen and Bobby Roth.

Domingo is looking to kick off directing in Los Angeles next year, and while Sweeney would play Novak, ‘Alien Romulus’ David Jonsson is aboard to play Davis Jr.

What’s the story of ‘Scandalous’?

(L to R) Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford in 'Salt and Pepper'. Photo: United Artists.

Featuring a script by Matthew Fantaci, ‘Scandalous’ will chart what happened when movie Novak (known for the likes of ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Pal Joey’) met Rat Pack member Davis Jr. while guests on ‘The Steve Allen Show.’

They fell in love, but as rumors spread, the rampant racism in America threatened to derail their careers. Novak saw the ire of Harry Cohn, the Columbia Pictures chief who had the actress under contract. Their covert affair became big news when a Chicago gossip columnist in early 1958 wrote a detailed account of their relationship, including their plans to marry.

Their publicists and the stars themselves denied the news and nine days later, Davis Jr. married a Black chorus girl named Loray White.

What else is Colman Domingo developing?

Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo to portray Jackson Family Patriarch Joe Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International's Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael.'

Domingo is overseeing the move of stage production ‘Lights Out: Nat King Cole,’ which he wrote with director Patricia McGregor, to New York. And talking of the legendary singer, Domingo also has a film about him in the works, with plans to star and direct.

On the acting front, he’s working on Tina Fey’s TV version of ‘The Four Seasons’ for Netflix. Next up, he’ll be seen in the streamer’s new mystery thriller limited series ‘The Madness,’ (landing November 28th) and is appearing as Michael Jackson’s father Joe in ‘Michael’, the biopic of the pop icon, which is in theaters on April 18th next year.

When will ‘Scandalous’ be on screens?

Given that Domingo and Sweeney are waiting until they finish work on the next season of ‘Euphoria’ (which isn’t scheduled to shoot until January 2025 at the earliest), we’ll likely be in for wait for this one.