Mexican actor Diego Calva is pulling back the curtain on what it was like to film intense, intimate scenes with co-star Jacob Elordi in the upcoming queer period drama On Swift Horses, calling the experience both “intimidating” and emotionally profound.
The film, based on Shannon Pufahl’s acclaimed novel of the same name, is set against the backdrop of post-war America and centers on a love triangle — and ultimately a love quadrangle — involving a married couple and two of the husband’s closest companions.
Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Muriel, a young woman stuck in a strained marriage to Lee, portrayed by Will Poulter. The narrative takes a complicated turn when Muriel finds herself emotionally drawn to Lee’s younger brother Julius (Jacob Elordi). But the emotional core of the film ultimately pivots to the forbidden and passionate affair between Julius and Henry (Diego Calva), a mysterious figure Julius meets in a Las Vegas casino.
An Intimidating Co-Star
In a recent interview with Attitude magazine, Calva shared his candid thoughts on filming nude scenes with Elordi, who gained international fame through roles in Euphoria and Saltburn.
“Believe me, being naked around Jacob Elordi is intimidating!” Calva said during his cover story. “He’s like a god — he’s too perfect! It’s hard not to do a hot scene with Jacob shirtless!”
While the light-hearted comment drew laughs, Calva made it clear that the film’s intimate scenes were handled with care and deep emotional intent. Rather than being gratuitous, the nudity and sex scenes were designed to convey the tenderness and vulnerability of true love.
A Story Rooted in Love, Not Tragedy
Directed by Dan Minahan (The L Word, Game of Thrones), On Swift Horses is part of a new wave of queer cinema that focuses on complex characters and meaningful relationships, rather than tragedy-driven narratives.
“[Director Dan Minahan] told us, ‘I don’t want to provoke the audience. This is about actual love,’” Calva revealed. “He didn’t want the classic story of tragedy around queer characters, followed by kinky sex scenes. These are two sweet guys who really fall in love.”
Calva describes his character, Henry, as “wilder and more dangerous in the streets,” but with Julius, he reveals a softer, more vulnerable side. “When they’re inside the hotel room, in their own world, because they have to hide from the actual world — they’re kids,” Calva said, explaining how the film depicts an innocence within a secret, sacred space.
In trying to describe the emotional tone of their romance, Calva added, “It’s like when you fall in love for the first time when you’re eight. You fall in love with your cousin or your teacher. Something really sweet, platonic, in a way.”
A New Chapter in Queer Storytelling
On Swift Horses has already been named one of the most anticipated LGBTQ+ films of 2025, joining a promising slate that includes Olivia Colman’s Jimpa and Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor’s The History of Sound, a gay romance set during World War I.
With a high-profile cast and bold storytelling, On Swift Horses is expected to make a splash when it hits U.S. theaters on April 25. A release date for the U.K. and Australia has yet to be confirmed.
The film is also part of a larger conversation about the types of queer stories being told on screen. Rather than leaning into trauma or using LGBTQ+ characters as tragic symbols, On Swift Horses offers a narrative centered on desire, emotional intimacy, and survival in a repressive society.
Elordi, who continues to expand his acting range following recent performances in Priscilla and Saltburn, will also appear later this year as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights. His casting in that project has sparked mixed reactions, but his performance in On Swift Horses is already being praised for its nuance and chemistry with Calva.
Calva, best known for his role in Narcos: Mexico, says he’s proud to be part of a film that treats queer love with honesty and respect.
“It’s a movie about love — not shame, not punishment,” he said. “It was a joy to work on something that tells our stories in a way that is both tender and real.”
As Hollywood continues to push for more inclusive storytelling, On Swift Horses may stand as a landmark entry in the growing canon of queer cinema — one that dares to center love, not loss, and passion, not pain.
On Swift Horses opens in U.S. theaters on April 25. Stay tuned for international release dates and festival appearances throughout the summer.
