Naya Rivera's Son Josey Lands First Film Role Alongside Father Ryan Dorsey in 'The Burning Valley'

Josey Dorsey, the 10-year-old son of the late actress Naya Rivera and actor Ryan Dorsey, has booked his first feature film role in The Burning Valley, a drama from first-time writer-director Evan Coury, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Josey's father Ryan Dorsey is also listed among the cast, which means the two could share screen time. Josey is credited with the role of "Boy" on his IMDb page, which lists the film as his sole upcoming project. Ryan Dorsey's television credits include Yellowstone, Ray Donovan, Justified and Palm Royale. Josey's mother, Naya Rivera, was best known for her role as Santana Lopez on the Fox musical series Glee. Rivera and Dorsey married in 2014 and divorced two years later.

Rivera died in a drowning accident at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, in July 2020 during a boating outing with Josey, who was then four years old. Six years on, her son is stepping in front of a camera for the first time.

The Burning Valley follows a steelworker who loses his job when the local mill announces a shutdown and drifts through his Rust Belt town. Coury, who has acting credits in the 2015 short Adopted and the 2022 film Dear Zoe — which stars Sadie Sink — is making his directorial debut on the project. The cast also includes Tyler Miles, J.B. Brown, Joseph Ducar, Whip Hubley, Patrick Jordan, Sam Lothard, Joseph Mazza and Sheila McKenna, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Filming began in August in the Pennsylvania area where Coury grew up, including the towns of Brackenridge and Arnold. The IMDb title page for the film lists Coury as director with Tyler Miles, JB Brown, Josey Dorsey and Ryan Dorsey among the cast.

Josey's path to the role has been building quietly. He and his father moved from Los Angeles to West Virginia in 2023. The following year, at age eight, Josey appeared in a local theatre production of Seussical Jr. in West Virginia. In July, Ryan Dorsey told Page Six that Josey had been taking piano lessons to prepare for the part.

People magazine and Just Jared also confirmed the casting in late August. No release date for The Burning Valley has been announced.