{"id":1434396,"date":"2025-05-27T01:02:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T00:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?p=1434396"},"modified":"2025-05-27T16:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T15:13:17","slug":"pillion-alexander-skarsgard-says-theres-a-raunchier-version-of-the-new-gay-bdsm-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/culture\/pillion-alexander-skarsgard-says-theres-a-raunchier-version-of-the-new-gay-bdsm-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"Pillion: Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd says there’s a “raunchier” version of the new gay BDSM drama"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd has teased a “raunchier” cut of the upcoming gay BDSM film <\/span>Pillion. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 18 May, the highly anticipated drama made its world premiere during the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. <\/span><\/p>\n

Directed by Harry Lighton (<\/span>Wren Boys<\/span><\/em>), the film chronicles the romance between Colin (Harry Melling), a “weedy wallflower letting life pass him by” who becomes the submissive of Ray (Skarsg\u00e5rd), “the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club”.<\/span><\/p>\n

The official synopsis for Pillion<\/em> is as follows: “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.<\/span><\/p>\n

“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?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Following its premiere, the film received a seven-minute standing ovation and generally positive reviews from critics, who lauded the performances of Skarsg\u00e5rd and Melling, Lighton’s direction and its unexpectedly tender love story. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pillion<\/em>‘s abundance of intense and explicit sex scenes also garnered attention, with one reviewer stating that the film is “what Fifty Shades of Grey<\/em> should have been.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In a world trying to erase LGBTQIA+ stories, we keep writing them. Join our mission as shareholders in Gay Times and help us fight for your rights. Find out more at\u00a0investors.gaytimes.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In a recent interview with <\/span>Variety<\/span><\/a><\/em>, Lighton revealed that the forthcoming project had more NSFW content prior to its premiere. However, he removed several scenes to not “push the audience into feeling they were being deliberately shocked by an image.” <\/span><\/p>\n

“So, for example, there was one close-up of a dick, a hard dick… like down the barrel of the lens. And after watching the film on that ‘f**k-off’ screen, I thought, ‘Yeah, cutting it was probably the right decision!'” Lighton explained. <\/span><\/p>\n

Skarsg\u00e5rd confirmed Lighton’s statement, adding: “There’s definitely a raunchier version of this movie… what you’ve seen is the family-friendly version… there’s also the Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd cut.” <\/span><\/p>\n

From Element Pictures, <\/span>Pillion<\/span><\/em> is based on the novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones. It also stars Douglas Hodge as Pete, Lesley Sharp as Peggy, Anthony Welsh as Darren and Scissor Sisters star Jake Shears as Kevin, another sub.<\/span><\/p>\n

In October, A24 acquired US distribution rights to the film. A worldwide release date is yet to be announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here to read some of the early reviews of Pillion.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd has teased a “raunchier” cut of the upcoming gay BDSM film Pillion. 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