In a move that's already stirring buzz in indie film circles, the first trailer for Pillion has just landed, showcasing Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling in a provocative tale of dominance and desire. Directed by newcomer Harry Lighton, the film adapts Adam Mars-Jones's 2020 novel Box Hill, plunging viewers into the world of a timid young man drawn into a BDSM relationship with a rugged biker gang leader. Skarsgård, fresh off his intense turns in Succession and The Northman, plays Ray, the enigmatic dom whose leather-clad allure pulls in Melling's Colin, a soft-spoken traffic warden living with his ailing parents.
The trailer, released this week by A24—which snagged U.S. rights back in October—teases explicit moments without holding back, from wrestling in spandex to blunt shopping instructions for a butt plug. Indeed, it's bold stuff, blending raucous humor with raw emotional depth. Lighton's debut premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 18 in the Un Certain Regard section, where it snagged the Best Screenplay award and even the Palm Dog for its canine sidekick. Nominations followed for the Caméra d'Or and Queer Palm, signaling early acclaim for this queer romance set against London's biker subculture.
Moreover, critics have praised the leads' chemistry, with Melling—known for shedding his Harry Potter baggage in films like The Pale Blue Eye—delivering a vulnerable performance that contrasts Skarsgård's commanding presence. However, the film's unapologetic dive into kink has sparked whispers of controversy, even as it earns a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from initial reviews. Picturehouse will roll it out in the UK on November 28, while A24 eyes a stateside push that could make it a festival darling turned mainstream hit.
Skarsgård himself noted in interviews that they shot even more graphic scenes than what's in the final cut, hinting at the project's boundary-pushing intent. Yet for all its heat, Pillion underscores a heartfelt exploration of consent and self-discovery amid the roar of motorcycles.
As this unlikely love story revs toward wider release, one wonders how it will shift perceptions of romance on screen.