Kinky Romance ‘Pillion' Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Harry Melling Sells to Multiple Territories
Cornerstone has closed a slew of new territorial deals for Harry Lighton's Cannes official selection Pillion after the film sold to A24 for the U.S. market.
The kinky romancer that launched at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section has been sold to Weltkino (Germany, Austria), iWonder (Italy), Praasens (Switzerland), MCF (the territory formerly known as Yugoslavia), Gutek (Poland), Lusomondo (Portugal), New Cinema (Israel) and Diamond for Latin America.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
BBC Studios Acquires Unscripted Production Company Mothership TV
'The Real Housewives of London,' NBCU Reality Streamer Hayu's First Original, Unveils Cast
Andrew Tate and Brother Tristan Charged With 21 U.K. Crimes, Including Rape and Human Trafficking
Described as a 'funny, filthy romance,' Pillion sees Skarsgard play Ray, an 'impossibly handsome leader of a bike gang' who takes on Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower, to be his new submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life and introduces him to a community of kinky, queer bikers. But as Colin dives deeper into Ray's world, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is really for him.
Lighton, who makes his feature directorial debut with the film, won the Un Certain Regard Award for best screenplay in Cannes. After the festival's market, Cornerstone also sold Pillion to Transformers (Japan), Challan (South Korea) and Swallow Wings (Taiwan). Besides the A24 deal for the U.S., Picturehouse will release Pillion in the U.K. and September Film will handle the Benelux release.
Lighton, BAFTA-nominated for his 2017 short Wren Boys, directed Pillion from his own script which is loosely inspired by Adam Mars-Jones' 2019 novel Box Hill.
Element Pictures, a Fremantle company, produced Pillion with financing from BBC Film and the BFI in association with Fremantle, Picturehouse and September Film.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT
'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Bono Sparks MAGA Backlash After Joe Rogan Appearance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Irish rock star Bono has come under fire from supporters of President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement after citing an academic who said the administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may have been a factor in 300,000 deaths. Bono made the claim during an appearance on Joe Rogan's popular podcast which was released on Friday, after which he was branded "a liar/idiot" by former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk. Newsweek contacted USAID for comment on Saturday via email outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters After coming to power in January the second Trump administration ordered a halt to most foreign aid funding and attempted to shut down USAID, though this was blocked in court. Supporters argued cuts saved American taxpayers money that was being used ineffectively, while critics said it would hit some of the most vulnerable around the world. Bono at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2025, in Cannes, France. Bono at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2025, in Cannes, To Know During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience Bono, a founding member of U2, said: "Just recent report, it's not proven, but there's surveillance enough [to] suggest 300,000 people have already died from just this cut off, this hard cut, of USAID so there's food rotting in boats, in warehouses, this will f*** you off." Bono appeared to be referencing research conducted by Boston University infectious disease mathematical modeler Brooke Nichols who concluded USAID cuts could have resulted in 300,000 otherwise preventable deaths, including 200,000 children. Bono's claim sparked a furious response from Trump supporters on social media including Elon Musk, who on Friday was given a large key by the president as thanks after stepping down from the day-to-day management of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a post on his X, formerly Twitter, website, referring to Bono, Musk said: "He's such a liar/idiot. Zero people have died!" He's such a liar/idiot 🤦♂️ Zero people have died! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2025 The tech billionaire was responding to Mike Benz, executive director of the Foundation For Freedom Online campaign group, who shared a clip of Bono's remarks adding: "These USAID numbers are f***** faker than their COVID numbers." Popular conservative X commentator Catturd added: "Elon Musk calls out low IQ moron Bono for being an idiot and a liar." However, Bono's comment was welcomed by the Protect Kamala Harris X account, which has over 90,000 followers and posts in support of the former presidential hopeful. The account shared a photograph on Bono, captioned: "RETWEET if you stand with Bono against Donald Trump!" What People Are Saying During his podcast appearance Bono said: "There is 50,000 tons of food that are stored in Djibouti, South Africa, Dubai, and wait for it Houston, Texas, that is rotting rather than going to Gaza, rather than going to Sudan, because the people who know the codes for the warehouse are fired, they're done." In response, Joe Rogan said: "They're throwing the baby out with the bathwater, this is the problem, the problem is for sure there have been a lot of organizations that do tremendous good all throughout the world. Also, for sure it was a money-laundering operation, for sure there was no oversight, for sure billions of dollars are missing, in fact trillions, that are unaccounted for." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will succeed in its bid to close down USAID entirely or whether this will continue to be blocked in the courts.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
This Crazy 143-Foot Superyacht Was Rihanna's Boat Of Choice In Cannes
The vertical gardens can be seen in the pillar on the left. In the yachting world, the Cannes Film Festival means one thing: the start of the summer boating season. The film festival, plus the Monaco Grand Prix, usher in the beginning of summer, and it's a sure signal that it's time to get out on the water. The A-listers seem to think so too, and plenty of them have already been spotted on the superyacht scene on the French Riviera. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: A$AP Rocky and Rihanna depart the "Highest 2 Lowest" red carpet at the 78th ... More annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 19, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by) CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the "Highest 2 Lowest" red carpet at the 78th ... More annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 19, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage) Barbara Palvin (left) and Dixie d'Amelio (right) There were plenty of yachts hosting parties during the Cannes Film Festival, as the event takes place just steps away from the glitzy marina of Vieux Port. But, the boat that generated the most buzz was an 143-feet multihull known as This Is It. The superyacht rents for €350,000 p/week (roughly $397 167) with brokerage firm IYC, but it's also available for private events like the film festival, where it hosted a celebrity-studded function on board. The event was an A$AP Rocky x Ray-Ban party following the Cannes premiere of his film 'Highest 2 Lowest.' Kelly Rutherford (left), Elijah Wright (left) Guests enjoying a party on This Is It Among the attendees were Barbara Palvin, Kelly Rutherford, Dylan Sprouse and Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky. Paul Pogba, Elijah Wright and Romee Strijd were also seen on the yacht during the soiree. The yacht gets its name from the fact that the owner – the Cypriot founder of a forex platform – had been shopping around for boats for a while, but when he saw the initial sketches for This Is It, that's what he said: 'This Is It!' Not content with something in the realms of ordinary, the owner wanted something with wow-factor, that was going to attract attention and get people talking. The yacht has a unique asymmetric design The light-changing pool is the focal point of the yacht's stern. The vessel charters from €350,000 (around $397,000) p/week + expenses. There are certainly no shortage of talking points on This Is It. The pool at the back of the boat has been designed so that it appears to float in the space, and there are two glass tubes at the back of the boat that are filled with real, living and breathing plants. They're described as 'vertical gardens' by the yacht's builder. If that wasn't enough, the yacht also has bar that's covered in a material designed to mimic elephant skin, and there's a dining area where you can watch the chef at work behind a glass panel. Gold, bronze and titanium feature heavily alongside thick slabs of Carrara marble (which is used to make a freestanding basin in the treatment room) and heavily curved furniture features throughout the vessel. Interior design is futuristic and focused on curving elements. A mssage room with an ice podium overlooks the sea. Ceiling heights in the master cabin are unprecedented. The yacht's builder is a company called Tecnomar, which is a brand that belongs to the parent company The Italian Sea Group. The Italian Sea Group is a giant in the world of yachtbuilding, having recently constructed a yacht entirely designed by Giorgio Armani himself and also being responsible for the popular Tecnomar x Lamborghini boats. This Is It is also the perfect candidate for entertaining a Cannes Film Festival after-party, as it's described as the largest motor catamaran available to charter in the world. The reason it's so roomy is because it's a multihull (I explained the space advantages of the multihull in this article about the yacht from The White Lotus), meaning it feels more like a villa at sea than a boat. Up to 12 crew can be accommodated on board. Glass covers the exterior of the boat. A seapool makes her a great option for chartering. It also has a unique asymmetric design that provides an unconventional layout which maximises the feeling of space even further. The owner's suite has soaring ceiling heights (with a skylight in the roof) and there are amenities including a sensory shower and a dedicated massage room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Taking design inspiration from sea creatures and covered by more than 600 square metres of glass, This Is It is a boat with enough to shout about – and now she has some A-list parties to add to her list of cool credentials.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former EastEnders star Joe Absolom joins Emmerdale cast
Former EastEnders actor Joe Absolom is to join the cast of Emmerdale. The 46-year-old will play Ray, an old contact of Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), in the ITV soap, having previously played Matthew Rose in BBC soap EastEnders from 1997 to 2000. ITV says Ray will arrive at the farm claiming to be selling farm machinery, but it is not long before his true drug-dealing ways become clear. Absolom said of his new role: 'Well, what an honour to join such a talented team at Emmerdale. It's an iconic show and I'm grateful to be part of it. I can't wait to see what's in stock for Ray.' ITV says Absolom's character will have a 'calm and collected exterior' with a hidden 'menacing streak'. Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: 'We are thrilled to welcome Joe Absolom to the cast. It's fantastic to have such a high-calibre and immensely talented actor join our wonderful team to play the role of Ray. 'Charming, charismatic and effortlessly likeable, Ray is an extremely complex character who very quickly shows his dark and villainous side to some of our most loved villagers, leaving them in no doubt as to what he's capable of.' The actor also appeared as Al Large in the ITV comedy drama Doc Martin between 2004 and 2022, and most recently played the role of Braden Moore in Code of Silence. It comes after ITV announced it was to air its first ever crossover between Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with fans able to vote for the characters they would like to see meet and interact. The hour-long crossover episode will air in January 2026 as ITV and STV announce a new hour of soap schedule, which will see half hour Emmerdale episodes air at 8pm, followed by 30-minute episodes of Coronation Street at 8.30pm. Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and STV, or from 7am on ITVX and STV Player.
