12 Things You Didn’t Know About the Filming of Pillion

Alexander Skarsgård’s Pillion may feel quiet, intimate, and deceptively simple on screen — but behind the scenes, its making was anything but conventional. From minimal rehearsal to real-world kink consultation, the film’s tenderness and authenticity were carefully, and sometimes unexpectedly, built.

Here are 12 things you probably didn’t know about how Pillion came together.

1. Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling Barely Rehearsed

The two leads met just two days before filming began. Rather than rehearsing scenes extensively, director Harry Lighton encouraged discovery on camera. The result is a relationship that unfolds with genuine uncertainty, mirroring Colin’s emotional journey in real time.

2. Ray Was Written to Stay a Mystery — No Big Reveal Allowed

In a more conventional film, Ray would have a dramatic second-act reveal: a hidden family, a secret past, some explanatory trauma. Pillion refuses all of that. Ray remains enigmatic to the very end, forcing the audience to engage with him as Colin does — through actions, not exposition.

3. Skarsgård Constantly Revised His Understanding of Ray

Skarsgård came into the shoot with a clear idea of Ray’s arc — and then repeatedly had to throw it out. Scenes evolved in ways he didn’t expect, emotional beats landed differently than planned, and Ray’s interior life shifted as filming progressed. That instability, he says, gave the film its “nerve.”

4. The Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club Was Deeply Involved

The Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club (GBMCC) didn’t just consult on aesthetics — they helped shape the entire tone of the film. Members were present throughout the shoot, advising on everything from protocol to props to how people actually interact in kink spaces.

5. Getting the Lube Right Actually Mattered

Yes, really. Practical details — including the correct type of lube for the orgy scene — were carefully checked for authenticity. The goal wasn’t shock value, but realism. If the details were wrong, the entire portrayal would ring false to those who know the culture.

6. The Film Actively Avoids BDSM Stereotypes

Rather than portraying kink as either terrifying or overly romanticized, Pillion intentionally shows mundane moments: people chatting, joking, cuddling after scenes. The film resists the idea that BDSM is either dangerous spectacle or sanitized fantasy — instead presenting it as lived experience.

7. There Is No Written Contract — On Purpose

While written contracts are common in real-world BDSM dynamics, the filmmakers chose verbal consent for narrative reasons. The audience learns Ray’s rules alongside Colin, preserving the sense of discovery and emphasizing that Colin is choosing this relationship, not being coerced into it.

8. The First Sex Scene Was Re-Shot to Feel Less Aggressive

An early take of Colin’s first blowjob felt too forceful and drained the moment of excitement. After reviewing it together, the team recalibrated the scene to restore playfulness and thrill. The goal was for the audience to leave hoping for a second date — not urging Colin to escape.

9. Every Sex Scene Serves the Story

None of the sex scenes exist just to be “sexy.” Each one marks a milestone: Colin’s first blowjob, first intercourse, first orgasm. These moments are pivotal to his coming-of-age, not narrative detours, which is why the camera stays present rather than fading away.

10. The Leather Isn’t Costume — It’s Functional Gear

Skarsgård initially imagined a classic Tom of Finland biker look. Instead, the film opted for modern racing gear — practical, real, and worn for use, not display. The leather signals dominance without theatricality, grounding Ray in function rather than fantasy.

11. Ray’s Softest Moment Happens While He’s Asleep

One of the film’s most emotionally significant moments — Ray draping himself over Colin while sleeping — was carefully considered. Awake, Ray controls affection with precision. Asleep, his guard drops. That accidental tenderness becomes a turning point in Colin’s understanding of what he wants.

12. The Ending Is Meant to Be Interpreted — Not Explained

The film’s final “day off” sequence has sparked wildly different interpretations: an act of cruelty, a gesture of generosity, or a moment that scares Ray into retreat. Skarsgård refuses to clarify it, saying the range of audience reactions has been one of the most rewarding parts of the film’s release.

Pillion may be about kink, but its true subject is intimacy: how people negotiate desire, power, and care — and what happens when those needs don’t fully align. Its quiet confidence, both in front of and behind the camera, is what makes it linger long after the credits roll.

Oh one more, Pillion is the name for the seat behind a motorcyclist, suggesting Colin’s along for the ride in Ray’s fantasy world.

Pillion is currently in limited release from A24 and expands in the U.S. on February 6, 2026.