Hayley Kiyoko Wants to Make a Lesbian ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’: ‘Keira Knightley, But Gay’

 I see the future I want, and it’s bright. It also consists of seafaring. Gay seafaring. Directed by Hayley Kiyoko.

Because, during UTA’s Outfest panel (Save Queer Media) on Thursday, the pop singer shared her dream project: A queer take on Pirates of the Caribbean. “I would love to do a lesbian pirate show or movie—Keira Knightley, but gay,” she said. “Very gay and fantastical.” 

ICYMI, Kiyoko made her directorial debut earlier this year with the film adaptation of her novel, “Girls Like Girls.” The YA sapphic love story was inspired by her song of the same name, which cemented her as a queer icon… though I would argue that those dominoes were in motion from the moment we met Lemonade Mouth’s own Stella Yamada. 

After establishing a landmark Gen-Z gay awakening in 2011 as Yamada, Kiyoko took a page out of her character’s book and focused on a career in music. Then came along “Girls Like Girls” and its accompanying music video, which is how Kiyoko came to be anointed by fans as Lesbian Jesus. She returned to the pop scene with her 2018 debut album Expectations, and eventually its successor, Panorama (2022). 

Growing up, Kiyoko says she knew she wanted to be a pop star, but struggled with a lack of lesbian representation in the industry. In an interview with Cero Magazine, Kiyoko also spoke powerfully about paving the way, and putting aside the uncertainty that comes with doing something you haven’t really seen done before by someone who you see yourself in. “My perspective has heavily shifted because I believe that it is possible and that you can break the glass ceiling,” she explained. “If you haven’t seen someone do something, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done.”

When Kiyoko adapted her “Girls Like Girls” and its music video into a feature film, she encountered some pushback. So, she adapted it into a bestselling novel (cue Elle Woods’ “What, like it’s hard?), and was able to get her film greenlit, allowing her to create a project she believed to be deeply important. In an interview with Variety in June, Kiyoko said, “After we released the music video, I saw thousands of comments from fans saying, ‘I wish I could go see a film like this. I thought to myself: I’ve never been able to see a movie like this before.” 

During the panel, Kiyoko also said she’s hoping to get her second novel, Where There’s Room For Us, adapted into a film—but is doubtful anyone wants to fund a period piece. Well. Here’s to manifesting one of those period pieces.