How Scarlett Johansson Could Turn David Corenswet’s Biggest Dream Into Reality

Jonathan Bailey and David Corenswet just met for the first time and immediately discovered they share a very specific dream: starring together in a new take on "High Society" with Scarlett Johansson in the Grace Kelly role. Yes, they literally broke into song about it. And that was just one of the weirdly delightful overlaps that popped up during their chat.

Their instant "High Society" duet (and who plays Tracy Lord)

This went down on episode three of Variety and CNN's "Actors on Actors," and then spilled into the companion "Off the Set" segment where they debrief and answer rapid-fire questions. When the interviewer asked for a dream musical, Bailey shot back "High Society" without hesitation, and Corenswet lit up like he had the same answer locked and loaded. They started singing, Corenswet asked "Who’s our Grace Kelly?" and Bailey tossed out Meryl Streep first. That got a respectful pause. Then Bailey said Scarlett Johansson, and Corenswet was all in.

For anyone thinking "Can Scarlett even sing?" — she can. Johansson voiced Ash (the porcupine) in "Sing," and yes, she actually sings in those films.

Quick context check on "High Society"

• The movie they’re talking about is the 1956 musical "High Society" (a musical remake of "The Philadelphia Story"). It opened July 17, 1956, was directed by Charles Walters, and starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly (as socialite Tracy Lord), Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, John Lund, and Louis Calhern.
• Reception snapshot: 87% on Rotten Tomatoes; 6.9/10 on IMDb.
• If you want to revisit it: you can rent/buy it on Prime Video.
• So, in their fantasy casting, Johansson would be stepping into Grace Kelly’s Tracy Lord slot.
• This all came up after an "Actors on Actors" sit-down that also covered Bailey’s Sexiest Man Alive moment and both guys’ early industry origins.
• Corenswet’s musical receipts are real: in high school at The Shipley School he played Seymour Krelborn in "Little Shop of Horrors" (lyrics/book by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken — that’s the one with the man-eating plant). He also played Corny Collins in the Upper Darby Summer Stage production of "Hairspray" in 2012. For trivia fans: Shawn Thompson was Corny in John Waters’ 1988 film, and James Marsden picked up Corny in the 2007 movie musical, which means Cyclops and Superman have carried the same hairspray can.

Old clips, new receipts

Right after the episode, fans started circulating clips: the two of them harmonizing on "High Society," throwback photos of Corenswet as Seymour in "Little Shop," and his very sparkly Corny Collins from 2012. The internet never misses an opportunity to produce archival bedazzle.

The levitating-kiss coincidence

Somehow, the overlap gets even more specific. While swapping stories, Bailey realized they both have on-screen kisses that happen mid-air — his in "Wicked: For Good" and Corenswet’s in "Superman." He was very pleased by this discovery.

"We both kiss levitating!"

If you’ve seen the footage making the rounds, the parallel is pretty on the nose.

File under: please make this happen

Between the instant musical chemistry, the same taste in vintage studio gloss, and the very niche levitating-kiss connection, a Bailey-Corenswet "High Society" suddenly feels weirdly plausible. If they can get Johansson to headline as Tracy Lord, I’m there on day one.

Who’s your pick for the rest of the cast if this actually comes together?