The Northman features a fight sequence where star Alexander Skarsgard is naked. In an effort to keep the actor’s penis and testicles safe, he wore a protective thong during filming. But it’s not Skarsgard’s real, uh, equipment, that’s on display in the final cut. Instead, through movie magic, viewers will see a CG version of Skarsgard’s genitals.
Director Robert Eggers confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Skarsgard’s bits are actually CG in some shots. “They were actually having to add things digitally, because they were wearing thongs, because no one wanted to get their bits chopped off. So we actually had to add some CG genitals for certain shots so that they didn’t look too Ken Doll-ish,” Eggers said.
Eggers told THR that Skarsgard’s junk as shown in the movie is indeed based on his real-life manhood. “You’ve got to make it look real, so I’m sure we did some full-body scans of Alex. They’re out there,” he said.
The scene in question involves Skarsgard’s Amleth doing battle with the character Fjölnir, who is played by Claes Bang. This isn’t the first time Skarsgard has gone “the full monty.” During the Season 6 finale of True Blood, Skarsgard showed off his private bits.
The Northman arrives in theaters on April 22. The story follows Skarsgard’s Amleth seeking to avenge his father’s death. He sets out on a warpath, using extreme and unsettling measures to get revenge.
In addition to Skarsgard, the Northman stars Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, and Bjork. Eggers, who also wrote The Northman with Icelandic poet Sjón, previously directed The Witch and The Lighthouse.
