Hayley Kiyoko's 'Girls Like Girls' Becomes Feature Film After Decade-Long Journey

Hayley Kiyoko's 2015 alt-pop hit 'Girls Like Girls' has been adapted into a feature film, premiering in theaters June 19. The song, which peaked during the EDM era, amassed over 163 million YouTube views for its music video. Kiyoko co-directed the original video with August S. Winchell and later wrote a YA novel in 2023 after initial film efforts stalled. The movie stars Myra Molloy and Maya da Costa, shot in Kelowna, Canada—a location with personal significance as Kiyoko's Japanese grandparents are buried there. Molloy, who previously played Eurydice in Broadway's 'Hadestown' and appeared in Netflix's 'He's All That,' initially auditioned for the role of Coley but was cast as Sonya. She cited the script's resonance with her own experiences as a mixed-race person (Thai-American). Kiyoko described the film as a celebration of queer joy, contrasting with the trauma-focused queer narratives she grew up with. An album inspired by the movie, featuring collaborations with queer artists, releases June 12. Kiyoko sees her future primarily as a director, aiming to make more films and TV shows.