Alexander Skarsgård Hits the Red Carpet in Shocking NSFW Shirt for ‘Pillion’ Photocall

Alexander Skarsgård is leaning into method dressing for his latest movie, Pillion — even going as far as wearing an NSFW piece of clothing during his latest carpeted appearance.

The actor, 49, attended the photocall for Pillion at the 21st Zurich Film Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in a shocking look. He wore a silk shirt from the Magliano spring 2025 collection, which features dildos, paper towels, lubricants and a cracked cellphone.

He wore the shirt with a few buttons undone for a casual touch, and completed his look with a pair of relaxed pinstripe trousers and black leather shoes.

While shocking, the Magliano shirt fits in with the themes of Pillion. The Harry Lighton-directed film follows Colin (played by Harry Melling), a young gay man who meets Ray (Skarsgård), a biker gang member who initiates him into a submissive relationship.

The movie, according to Skarsgård, includes several scenes that do not shy away from the realities of sex.

“I often find sex on screen quite boring,” he told Variety in an interview ahead of the film’s release. “Usually, all the tension is leading up to that moment, and then once people are in the sack… During Colin’s birthday and that orgy scene, a lot happens emotionally.”

He explained that he and Lighton “wanted it to be clumsy and weird. On screen, it often looks like a ballet, but sex can be awkward and funny.” 

Skarsgård praised the director for embracing “ the awkwardness” of Colin and Ray’s sexual encounters in the movie, noting that “these characters were fully fledged and the sex scenes weren’t graphic for the sake of being graphic. We shot way more graphic stuff than you’ve seen just now.”

The actor has worn several daring ensembles at his past carpeted events, though nothing as bold.

Skarsgård attended the Eagles of the Republic red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19 and put a funky twist on a suit.

For the occasion, he wore a tailored grey pinstripe suit with a white-button down shirt and pink bow tie. Instead of a pair of traditional matching pants or trousers, the actor dazzled in a pair of deep blue sequined pants that glittered with every step he took on the red carpet. He finished the look with shiny black patent leather shoes. 

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He had another bold red carpet moment days earlier, wearing a popular statement boot for the red carpet premiere of The Phoenician Scheme, also at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, on May 17.

Skarsgård wore a traditional black tuxedo with a black bow tie, but added bold, slouchy thigh-high black leather boots by Saint Laurent to complete the look.

A24 acquired the U.S. rights to Pillion in October 2024, but no theatrical release date has been announced yet.