Hunky Alexander Skarsgård's Queer Biker Film to Premiere at Cannes

It was revealed a year ago that hunky Alexander Skarsgård's was starring in a gay biker romance; this week it was announced that the film, "Pillion," will be screened at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.

"'Pillion' will see Skarsgård star as a biker who takes co-star Harry Melling under his wing as his "submissive" gay lover. The film has been described as a 'fun and filthy romance with heart,'" writes Attitude.

The film is based on Adam Mars-Jones' novel "Box Hill," the film follows a romance between a shy young man and the handsome leader of a kinky, queer motorbike club.

"Produced by Element Pictures, the company behind the Sally Rooney adaptation 'Normal People' and the Oscar-winning Emma Stone film 'Poor Things,' the first image from the film has just been released which sees Melling looking longingly at Skarsgård, both actors in typical leather biker jackets."

Cornerstone Films is handling worldwide sales on the project, which it will launch at Cannes this month as part of the Un Certain Regard section

Melling is best-known for playing opposite Anya Taylor Joy in "The Queen's Gambit," and playing Dudley Dursey in the "Harry Potter" franchise. Skarsgård is best known for his work in television in shows like "True Blood," "Succession" and for his Emmy-winning turn as Nicole Kidman's dastardly husband in "Big Little Lies."

"Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower letting life pass him by. That is until Ray (Skarsgård), the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, takes him on as his submissive," the film's official description reads. "Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life, introducing him to a community of kinky, queer bikers and taking all sorts of virginities along the way."

"But as Colin steps deeper into Ray's world of rules and mysteries, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is for him. Has he found his calling, or simply swapped one form of suffocation for another?"

The film, which is directed by Harry Lighton, who previous work includes "Pompeii" (2019), "Leash" (2018) and "Wren Boys" (2017).

Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, said "'Pillion,' is almost a comedy. And yet, if I may say so - but that doesn't prevent it - it's a comedy set in the world of English gay bikers."

"Skarsgård has previously played a gay character in the mockumentary 'Beyond the Pole,' and a trans character in 'Kill Your Darlings.' He also famously portrayed the pansexual vampire Eric in 'True Blood," adds Attitude.

Speaking to Pride Source in 2023, the actor reflected on the experience of playing Eric and shooting his queer sex scenes, saying: "It was just one of the most profound experiences ever. Just liberating."