Exclusive: KiKi Layne, Thomas Doherty and director Nicole Riegel talk Dandelion
Hitting theaters from IFC Films on July 12 is the musical film Dandelion, directed by Nicole Riegel and starring KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty. The film initially premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year.
Dandelion (KiKi Layne) – a struggling Cincinnati singer-songwriter in a downward spiral – takes a last-minute gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey (Thomas Doherty), a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As she joins his nomadic group of struggling musicians, the kindred spirits make music together and strike up a whirlwind romance. The experience moves Dandelion from a narrow view of success to a deeper appreciation of their artistic journey, and the discovery of a voice that is authentically her own.
Layne is best known for her breakout role opposite Stephan James in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 romantic drama “If Beale Street Could Talk.” She’s also appeared in “The Old Guard” and “Coming 2 America.” Layne is set to reprise her role in “Old Guard 2.”
Thomas Doherty is best known for playing the resident flirt on HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot.
Nicole Riegel is making her second feature film after directing “Holler” previously, and one other short.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Layne, Doherty and Riegel on the making of Dandelion.