Pillion: Alexander Skarsgård shot ‘way more graphic’ sex scenes than in final cut of kinky romance

Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling shot ‘way more graphic’ sex scenes than those that ended up in the final cut of the dom/ sub gay biker romance – and that’s saying something.

Starring Alexander Skarsgård as the dominant leader of a leather biker gang Ray and Harry Potter‘s Harry Melling as Colin, the naïve young gay man chosen to be Ray’s submissive, Pillion yesterday (1 October) dropped its first kinky, metal-studded trailer.

Alongside a tongue-in-cheek (both types) sense of humour, a completely naked Skarsgård, Melling being ordered to go and buy a butt plug and the tease of some very horny power dynamics outside of the bedroom, the first look was notably missing any glimpse at what the pair might get up to between the sheets.

But it’s been confirmed by Skarsgård, who worked with intimacy coordinator Robbie Taylor Hunt on the shoot, that not only does the film contain some raunchy BDSM scenes, but the shots that ended up in the movie are scaled-back versions of what was filmed.

Speaking to Variety at the Zurich Film Festival, Skarsgård said: “It wasn’t so much about making sure we were comfortable, because we were too comfortable with each other. But there’s a dramatic narrative in these scenes, which is not always the case.

“I often find sex on screen quite boring. Usually, all the tension is leading up to that moment, and then once people are in the sack… During Colin’s birthday and that orgy scene, a lot happens emotionally.”

He added: “We wanted it to be clumsy and weird. On screen, it often looks like a ballet, but sex can be awkward and funny.” 

Skarsgård also praised the film’s director, Harry Lighton’s, handling of the sex scenes in the film.

“He embraced the awkwardness of it. All these characters were fully fledged and the sex scenes weren’t graphic for the sake of being graphic. We shot way more graphic stuff than you’ve seen just now,” he said. 

“Harry did a beautiful job of calibrating it. You don’t shy away from it because ‘Oh, we can’t show men having sex,’ but you also don’t show a closeup of a dick just because you can, for the shock value.

“I think my mom will like this movie, and it’s about kinky gay bikers and a D/s relationship. Portrayed with the perfect amount of respect, but not too much respect.”

Pillion premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May this year, where Skarsgård smooched Pedro Pascal during a seven-minute standing ovation, and the film received positive reviews.

Pillion will be in cinemas from 28 November and will screen at London Film Festival this month.

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