In a surprising move for British public broadcasting, BBC Film has helped fund Pillion, a sexually transgressive romantic comedy starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling that's generating both shock and acclaim ahead of its cinema release.
A Sub-Dom Romance Unlike Any Other
The film, directed by first-time filmmaker Harry Lighton, explores the unconventional relationship between Melling's Colin, a timid barbershop quartet singer from a small English village, and Skarsgård's Ray, a leather-clad biker with dominant tendencies. The movie premieres in cinemas on Thursday 28 November 2025 after causing stirs at film festivals.
Skarsgård, known for his roles in True Blood and Infinity Pool, expressed his enthusiasm for the project's unconventional nature. "I'm terrified of run-of-the-mill stuff," the 49-year-old Swedish actor revealed. "Middle-of-the-road stuff. Generic characters make me nervous." He described Pillion as containing "just the perfect amount of penis" while being fundamentally "funny, sweet, tender and awkward."
Pushing Boundaries with Heart
Director Lighton aimed to balance outrageous sexual content with genuine warmth and banality. "I haven't necessarily seen many films that include the very transgressive elements of life sitting neatly side-by-side with things that are sweet," he explained. "The idea that you can leave an orgy to go and have a Sunday roast with your parents is, to me, very real."
The film doesn't shy away from its queer themes, featuring pup masks, boot-licking and sexually explicit scenes that serve as important character moments rather than mere titillation. Lighton was determined that Pillion wouldn't pander to straight audiences, taking inspiration from Adam Mars-Jones's 2020 novel Box Hill, though avoiding some of its darker nihilism.
Harry Melling, best known for playing Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films, found the project liberating despite initial reactions from friends and family. "I'd start explaining the general premise to people, and they'd gasp and go, 'You can't do that!'" the 36-year-old actor recalled. "One family member told me it sounded like pornography."
Authenticity and BBC Backing
Perhaps most surprisingly, the film received partial funding from BBC Film, making it a taxpayer-supported production that includes extreme sexual content. Lighton acknowledged that "the film's obviously gonna push the buttons of a certain pocket of people" but praised BBC Film's open-minded approach during their nine-year collaboration.
The production team worked closely with Britain's Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club to ensure authenticity, though initial trust had to be earned. "It took a meal or two for them to allow me to sit at the table," Lighton admitted. The club members ultimately became deeply involved, appearing in the film and participating in post-screening events.
One particularly memorable element involves a prosthetic penis belonging to Skarsgård's character, complete with piercing. "There was a lot of thought put into what the penis looked like, actually," Lighton noted. "The piercing says everything about Ray. It says that he's a well-experienced member of this community."
Both actors approached the explicit scenes with professionalism and purpose. Skarsgård explained that unlike typical "boring" sex scenes featuring "hands grabbing sheets, the arching of the back, that kind of bulls***," Pillion's intimate moments were "pivotal dramatic scenes" crucial to character development.
Melling drew on previous experience with stage nudity, recalling a production of King Lear at the Old Vic where a school audience's laughter during his nude soliloquy provided the ultimate preparation for anything Pillion might require.
The film represents a significant moment for queer representation in British cinema, combining genuine transgression with heartwarming romance while challenging expectations of what publicly-funded filmmaking can encompass.
