A24 has secured the U.S. distribution rights for Pillion, the debut feature from British director Harry Lighton, best known for his BAFTA-nominated short film Wren Boys. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman, Succession) and Harry Melling (The Pale Blue Eye), and is described as a “funny, filthy romance.” 

In Pillion, Skarsgård plays Ray, an attractive and commanding biker gang leader who introduces Melling’s character, Colin, a timid suburbanite, to a world of kinky and queer subcultures. The plot follows Colin’s journey as he is pulled from his monotonous life and thrust into Ray’s unconventional world. However, as Colin embraces his role as Ray’s submissive, he begins to question whether the lifestyle is truly what he desires. 

The film, loosely inspired by Adam Mars-Jones’ 2019 novel Box Hill, wrapped production this summer. Lighton directed the film from his own script, bringing his distinctive voice to the screen. 

Pillion was one of the standout projects at this year’s Cannes market, with Cornerstone managing worldwide sales. The film was produced by Element Pictures, the team behind Poor Things, with financing from BBC Film and the British Film Institute, in association with Fremantle. Picturehouse Entertainment will handle the U.K. release, while September Film is set to distribute the movie in the Benelux region.

Both Skarsgård and Melling are coming off notable projects. Skarsgård recently appeared in Lee and Amazon Prime’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith, while Melling has starred in Harvest and will feature in the upcoming sequel to Wolf Hall. Pillion marks another bold project for both actors as they continue to push boundaries in their respective careers.