A pirate life for us?

Stop everything, because Hayley Kiyoko just dropped the ultimate fan-cast vibe we didn't know we needed. During a "Saving Queer Media" panel at UTA in Beverly Hills on Thursday, the Girls Like Girls director revealed she is lowkey obsessed with the idea of a lesbian version of Pirates of the Caribbean. Her pitch? "Keira Knightley, but gay." Sign us up, say less, because the concept of a fantastical, queer-led pirate flick is absolutely living rent-free in our heads now.

Kiyoko, who recently made her directorial debut with the YA romance Girls Like Girls, also mentioned she’s aiming to adapt her second novel, Where There’s Room for Us. She acknowledged that period pieces are a tough sell to studios right now, but she's keeping that main character energy alive until someone finally signs the check.

Big dreams, bigger directors

Kiyoko wasn't the only one dropping absolute bangers at the fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ film festival Outfest. Other legendary directors also shared the projects they're dying to bring to life:

  • Adam Shankman: The Hairspray director is holding onto a dream of adapting the rock musical Spring Awakening. He admitted the dark themes make it a hard pitch, but he told the audience, "If that was my last movie, I’d be fine."
  • Wash Westmoreland: The director of Still Alice wants to bring The Glamour Boys to the screen. It’s a true, heavy-hitting story about queer British MPs in the 1930s who traveled to Berlin, saw the rise of the Nazis, and became radicalized heroes. Westmoreland noted the story is a powerful mirror to the current political climate, reminding everyone why we need to stay vigilant.
  • Angela Robinson: The mastermind behind Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is still trying to turn her 2004 action-comedy D.E.B.S. into a full-blown TV series. We are rooting for this because the world is absolutely ready for more D.E.B.S. energy.

Why it matters

These filmmakers are out here trying to push queer stories into the mainstream, proving that diverse representation isn't just a niche trend—it's high-tier art. Whether it's historical resistance or swashbuckling queer pirates, they're fighting to keep LGBTQ+ stories visible in an industry that often tries to gatekeep them.