Alexander Skarsgård’s new film ‘Pillion’ stirs debate over its sub-dom relationship storyline

Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling shock viewers with their dynamic in trailer for daring new film ‘Pillion’

Trailer for Pillion has just dropped and the film is already prompting conversation about kink representation and consent in mainstream cinema. The new trailer alongside festival screenings, stars Alexander Skarsgård as Ray and Harry Melling as Colin and previews a tender but frank exploration of a sub dom relationship that forms on Christmas Eve. Pillion is written by Harry Lighton and Adam Mars Jones and is being hailed by some critics after screenings at major festivals including BFI London Film Festival and New York Film Festival with early praise recalling the film circuit response at Cannes.

What stands out in the trailer is how the film foregrounds negotiation and ongoing consent. Scenes tease intimate moments and awkward family conversations as Colin learns to explain new relationship boundaries to his parents while Ray guides him through intimacy in adult ways. That focus on dialogue around consent is likely to shape public debate. Supporters say Pillion offers a careful, humane depiction of kink that could destigmatise consensual adult practices and bring more nuanced discussion of power exchange into the mainstream. Others predict pushback from viewers who feel uncomfortable with explicit thematic material or who worry about how sexual dynamics will be edited for wide release.

Casting is part of the story too. Skarsgård brings a striking physical presence while Melling offers a vulnerable centre and both performances are already singled out in early reviews. Festival reaction has been positive with critics praising the film for balancing humour and honesty with steamy material. That mix of tenderness and frankness is likely to keep Pillion in cultural conversations through awards season and into its cinema run.

Pillion is scheduled to hit cinemas in February 2026. For UK audiences this means further festival screenings before general release and the chance to see how distributors present the film to mainstream viewers. Whether Pillion becomes a turning point in how films portray consensual kink will depend on box office, word of mouth and how conversations about representation play out online and in print.

For readers tracking release and reviews keep an eye on festival reports from BFI London Film Festival and New York Film Festival and for updates on UK cinema listings as February 2026 approaches. Pillion looks set to be one of the spring films that prompts thoughtful debate about intimacy, power exchange and how modern relationships are shown on screen.