Harry Melling, known for his portrayal of Harry Potter character Dudley Dursley, has taken something of a career turn – starring in queer, BDSM-inspired Cannes Film Festival movie Pillion alongside Alexander Skarsgård.

The actor, who also starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Harry Beltik in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, will play Colin, a sexually submissive parking attendant, while Skarsgård will portray a charismatic biker who introduces him to his community of queer bikers, as well as his sexual adventures. He becomes a “pillion”, the name given for a passenger on a motorcycle, but arguably becomes a passenger in more ways than one – Colin becomes the sub, while Ray is the Dom.

Pillion’s film’s plot synopsis reads as follows: “Colin, a timid man, meets Ray, a confident biker gang leader, who initiates him into a submissive relationship, challenging Colin’s mundane existence and prompting personal growth through their unconventional dynamic.” It is based on the novel Box Hill by Adam Mars Jones.

The positive reviews from Cannes – as well as its eight-minute standing ovation – hopefully suggests that the film will sensitively explore male power dynamics when it comes to sexuality and specifically queer relationships. We will see Melling’s character tire of his submissive role in his dynamic with Ray and question what this submissiveness brings to his life.

Skarsgård’s character Ray has been described by Deadline as “fearless in communicating his every desire, but emotionally closed off to any real intimacy as the leader of a gay biker gang”. So it’s safe to say his character will depict and provide an opportunity to explore the nuances of toxic masculinity and the different ways that it can manifest. Especially as director Harry Lighton has described Melling’s energy on screen as “not remotely alpha”, but fizzing with charisma all the same. With a bit of luck, Pillion will explore ways in which men (whatever their sexuality) can be strong and masculine without channelling toxic alpha male energy.

It also looks to challenge certain stereotypes that surround BDSM sex and the community that has formed around it, as well as creating a “sweet” dynamic between the two romantic leads. “There’s a knee-jerk reaction when you hear about BDSM — that it’s going to be either very ironic or it’s going to be very severe — and I knew that I didn’t want to lose the fun of it,” Lighton told Vanity Fair.

“But I also didn’t want to create a distance between the audience and Colin and Ray through irony. That’s probably where the sweetness comes through.” He added that authenticity, when it came to sex in general and the world of BDSM, was really important when making Pillion.

“What was key was that whichever way we achieved it, it didn’t feel like the symbol of sub-Dom sex—that it felt like there was a reality to it. And that meant embracing moments of clumsiness or discomfort as well as the highs of the sex. “I wanted anyone who watches it from the kink community, or whatever community, to feel like what they’re watching is accurate.”

Melling has praised Skarsgård for being “the most generous, dreamy scene partner” when it came to filming their kinky sex scenes. “What could have been quite a daunting experience couldn’t have been more different, really,” he said.

“When you sort out the choreography of it, which is often the most difficult part – you sort out what everyone’s doing, where their hands are going – and then once action is called, you’re in the world of Colin and Ray.”

Skarsgård described Melling as “just the sweetest, nicest, loveliest human being”. “I felt comfortable going as far as we needed to go in these situations with him,” he said of filming their sex scenes. “There were these tender, beautiful moments that just happened organically, and some moments that were weird and some moments that were funny. But [Harry] was incredibly game, very brave in just throwing himself out there.”

An intimacy co-ordinator was consulted on set throughout – Skarsgård has opened up about having these professionals, as well as experienced members of the kink community, involved in the making of the film. “There are orgy scenes in the film, and with a combination of actors and non-actors with different levels of experience in that field, it was great to have Robbie [the intimacy co-ordinator] there to kind of help and guide the team,” he said.

Pillion’s sex scenes – which include boot licking, alleyway blow jobs and orgies – are an exciting draw, but the film is also set to depict love, affection and comedy. We can’t wait to see more.

“I hope they’re moved by it,” Lighton says. “Whether it makes people laugh or cry, horny or angry, I don’t mind. I just hope they feel something other than boredom. If it causes them to question some of their preconceptions that’s also good.”