Quick Read
- Alexander Skarsgård’s film ‘Wicker’ received a standing ovation at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
- Skarsgård plays a ‘wicker man’ in ‘Wicker’, whose presence disrupts a patriarchal village, earning critical praise for his performance.
- He clarified viral speculation about his sexuality, stating his comments at the Zurich Film Festival in October 2025 were not an intentional coming-out statement.
- Skarsgård is promoting ‘Pillion’, a BDSM-themed film where he plays a leather-clad biker, set for a February 6 U.S. release.
- His press tours have featured bold, gender-bending, and bondage-inspired fashion choices, including Valentino flip-flops at Sundance.
PARK CITY (Azat TV) – Acclaimed Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård is currently at the center of significant industry buzz, following the standing ovation for his new film, ‘Wicker’, at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, and his recent clarification regarding viral speculation about his sexuality. These developments arrive as Skarsgård continues a distinctive press tour for his upcoming BDSM-themed film, ‘Pillion’, marked by unconventional fashion choices that underscore his commitment to his roles and public persona.
‘Wicker’ Triumphs at Sundance with Social Commentary
Skarsgård’s latest project, ‘Wicker’, co-directed and written by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, premiered to a roaring standing ovation at Sundance. The film, an adaptation of Ursula Wills-Jones’s short story “The Wicker Husband,” features Skarsgård in the titular role alongside Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debicki. Set in an unspecified 1600s-esque rural village, the story centers on a lonely fisherwoman (Colman) who commissions a reclusive basket weaver (Peter Dinklage) to craft her a husband from wicker.
The arrival of this ‘wicker man,’ portrayed by Skarsgård as a ‘rattan Adonis,’ profoundly disrupts the established, paternalistic social order of the village. His character’s doting, caring, and handy nature, combined with his striking appearance, reportedly puts the local men to shame and challenges the norms, particularly bothering characters like Debicki’s ‘Tailor’s Wife.’ Olivia Colman, visibly moved by the audience’s reception, told TheWrap that one ‘would not believe you could make Alexander Skarsgard hotter than he is, but yeah. People are gonna have weird dreams.’
Critics, including The Hollywood Reporter, have noted ‘Wicker’ for its blend of fanciful whimsy and mature themes, delving into the mundane disappointments of adult life, marriage, and longing with a mix of irreverence and compassion. The film is essentially a social treatise on equal partnership, urging mindfulness of a spouse’s needs and disrupting entrenched patriarchal attitudes, delivered with what critics describe as ‘peppery wit.’
Addressing Viral Speculation and ‘Pillion’
Beyond his Sundance success, Skarsgård has been prominent in headlines for addressing a viral interview that sparked speculation about his sexuality. The buzz originated in October 2025 at the Zurich Film Festival, where, while promoting his BDSM film ‘Pillion’, Skarsgård made a comment that led many fans on social media to wonder if he had casually come out as bisexual. The clip rapidly gained traction across multiple platforms.
In a recent *Variety* cover story, the 48-year-old actor clarified the incident. “Oh,” he stated, referring to the interpretation that his comment resonated with his past, “That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement. I don’t know what I was talking about.” Skarsgård explained that he might have been trying to shift the focus to the story and characters of ‘Pillion’, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May to positive reviews and is slated for U.S. release on February 6. In ‘Pillion’, he portrays Ray, a leather-clad biker who develops a dominant/submissive relationship with a younger man played by Harry Melling. Skarsgård has previously played queer characters, notably pansexual vampire Eric Northman in HBO’s ‘True Blood’, and remains focused on authentically portraying the leather biker subculture in ‘Pillion’.
A Commitment to Character and Fashion
Skarsgård’s current promotional circuit has also been notable for his distinctive and often provocative fashion choices, described by Vogue as his ‘enduring commitment to flying the fashion freak flag.’ During the Sundance premiere of ‘The Moment’, a meta pop girl mockumentary also starring Charli XCX, Skarsgård appeared in a full Valentino pre-fall 2026 look, pairing an oversized beige trench coat and panelled track jacket with pleated suit trousers and studded thong-style flip-flops, despite the snowy Utah setting. This ‘on-trend naked pedicure’ underscored his playful sartorial sensibilities.
This isn’t an isolated incident. For the ‘Pillion’ press tour, Skarsgård and his stylist Harry Lambert have embraced a range of gender-bending and bondage-inspired looks. At the BFI London Film Festival, he sported a full Ludovic de Saint Sernin fall 2025 ensemble, featuring a white, backless halterneck shirt with a skinny leather tie and lace-up leather pants. At the Cannes Film Festival, he showcased ‘kinky boots’ and a ‘naughty, boot-licking graphic vintage t-shirt.’ Even on British daytime television, he donned cheeky short-shorts and socks from S.S. Daly, complete with a twirl and a curtsey. While admitting his regular wardrobe is limited, Skarsgård has clearly embraced creative styling as an extension of his commitment to these particular projects.
Alexander Skarsgård’s recent activities highlight a savvy approach to public engagement, where his artistic choices in challenging roles like the wicker man or the BDSM biker are mirrored by a deliberate, often provocative, curation of his public image, ensuring he remains a focal point in contemporary cultural discourse.