A24 has acquired U.S. distribution rights back seatthe debut feature of British director Harry Leighton (Rayne Boy) from poor thing Produced by Element Pictures Starring: Harry Mellinglight blue eyes) and Alexander Skarsgård (northerners, succession).
Described as a “fun, dirty romance,” Pilion sees Skarsgård play Ray, an “incredibly handsome bike gang leader” who casts Colin (Merlin), a weed The bushy wallflower becomes his new submissive. Ray takes Colin out of his dreary suburban life and introduces him to a community of eccentric bikers. But as Colin dives deeper into Ray’s world, he begins to question whether a life of 24/7 conformity is really for him.
Lighton received a BAFTA nomination for her 2017 short film Rayne Boydirector back seat Adapted from his own screenplay, loosely inspired by Adam Mars-Jones’ 2019 novel Box Hill. The film wraps up this summer.
Produced by Element Pictures (Fremantle) back seat The film is financed by BBC Film and the BFI in partnership with Fremantle, Picturehouse Entertainment (which will distribute in the UK) and September Film (which will distribute in the Benelux region).
Pillion is a popular project on the Cannes market this year, and Cornerstone, who is responsible for global sales, introduced it to buyers.
Melling most recently appeared in Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Venice Competition alongside Caleb Landry Jones harvestwill appear in Wolf Hall: Mirrors and Lightthe sequel to the Emmy-nominated 2015 limited series.
Skarsgård has a supporting role in the film starring Kate Winslet plum With Donald Glover and Maya Erskine on Amazon Prime Mr and Mrs Smith series, will next appear in the sci-fi series murder robot Available on Apple TV+.
