Gladiator II leading man Paul Mescal puts on another stylish display on the red carpet at the premiere for his new film with co-stars Connie Nielsen, Yuval Gonen and Pedro Pascal
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The stars of Gladiator II led the red carpet arrivals at London's Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square for the hotly-anticipated UK premiere on Wednesday.
Leading star Paul Mescal looked effortlessly stylish as he was joined by his co-stars Connie Nielsen, Yuval Gonen and Pedro Pascal.
The Irish actor, 28, who plays the former heir to the Roman Empire Lucius Verus in the blockbuster, opted for a smart black suit with a cream satin shirt.
Connie, 59, looked sensational in a baby blue pleated chiffon gown, with a semi-sheer skirt and thigh-high leg slit.
The Danish actress teamed the halterneck number with a pair of matching satin heels and styled her hair into loose waves.
Paul Mescal looked effortlessly stylish as he walked the red carpet at the UK premiere of Gladiator II on Wednesday
Arriving at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, the Irish actor, 28, was joined by his co-stars Connie Nielsen, Yuval Gonen and Pedro Pascal
Yuval, who stars as Arishat, stunned in an elegant white gown that featured a corseted bodice.
Pedro, 49, looked as fashion forward as ever in a black oversized shirt with a pair of smart trousers.
Early reviews from critics have called Gladiator II the 'best movie of the year' and a 'true epic' as they hailed Paul and Denzel Washington's performances.
With Russell Crowe's legendary Maximus long-since dead and buried, it is vengeful Lucius (Paul) who must fight for his liberty in the film after being taken into slavery and ripped away from his wife and daughter by general Marcus (Pedro Pascal).
When walking the red-carpet, it was no surprise he admitted he ‘blacked out’ when he was told he had got the part.
He said: 'I was walking on Upper Street in Islington, and I screamed out loud, phoned my family and blacked out.
'I found out about two or three weeks after we had a half an hour Zoom call together. You’re nervous for every film that you make.
'And as it’s a Ridley Scott film, you get two takes, maximum three if it’s a Friday. We’re in the presence of a great and one of his greatest films I think.'
Paul, who plays the former heir to the Roman Empire Lucius Verus in the blockbuster, opted for a smart black suit with a cream satin shirt
Connie, 59, looked sensational in a baby blue pleated chiffon gown, with a semi-sheer skirt and thigh-high leg slit
She styled her hair into loose waves
Yuval, who stars as Arishat, stunned in an elegant white gown that featured a corseted bodice
She accessorised with a pair of odd earrings and opted for a bronzed makeup look
Pedro, 49, looked as fashion forward as ever in a black oversized shirt with a pair of smart trousers
Denzel Washington wore a Dolce&Gabbana suit with peak lapels styled with a Martini-fit button-down shirt and silk tie
Director Ridley Scott joined Paul on the red carpet
Paul has revealed the insane bet he had with Ridley Scott over one Gladiator II stunt that caused a huge argument between pair
In an interview with Vanity Fair Paul told how there was a scene towards the end of the film and 'trained for f***ing months' - before Ridley changed his mind about the scene
Denzel, Ridley and Paul smiled for a snap
Pedro was supported by his sister Lux at the event
Paul also revealed the insane bet he had with Ridley Scott over one Gladiator II stunt that caused a huge argument between pair.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair Paul told how there was a scene towards the end of the film where a weary Lucius mounts a horse in hot pursuit of Macrinus.
Paul was keen to do his best for the action-packed moment and the other stunts so 'trained for f***ing months' - before Ridley changed his mind about the scene.
Paul told the publication: 'Two weeks before the scene, Ridley says, 'You're not f***ing doing it,' and I was like, 'What the f**k?,' and we had this argument.'
Ridley had decided to cut the scene due to some equine advice he had received on another movie.
Paul added of the altercation: 'I was pestering him constantly. And then the day before, he goes, 'OK, you can do the stunt, but if you come off, it's two Bentleys.'
He eventually pulled the move off in just a couple of takes.
The actor, who rose to fame as Connel Waldron in the BBC's lockdown smash hit Normal People, plays the son of Russell Crowe's legendary Maximus.
Although the character is long-since dead and buried, it is vengeful Lucius (Paul) who must fight for his liberty in the film after being taken into slavery and ripped away from his wife and daughter by general Marcus (Pedro Pascal).
Gladiator II takes place several decades after the first instalment, and features Lucius (the son of Connie Nielsen's Lucilla) who is now living in Numidia, a region of northern Africa.
Although he was sent to Numidia as a child, the film follows Lucius' return to Rome to reunite with his mother—and coming into conflict as he does so.
The film, which was 20 years in the making has been a hit with critics and fans have praised Paul's performance.
Paul's sister Nell looked stunning in a champagne taffeta dress
Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus in both films, wore a classic tuxedo and bow tie
Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus (Paul), the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and eventually pushed to fight in the Colosseum in an effort to restore glory
Gladiator II takes place several decades after the first instalment, and features Lucius (the son of Connie Nielsen's Lucilla) who is now living in Numidia, a region of northern Africa
Andrew Scott wore a blue cardigan with smart trousers and Gucci loafers
Joseph Quinn wore a black leather jacket paired with a black silk shirt and black mohair trousers by Prada
King Charles III made a surprise appearance
Matt Lucas opted for a navy blue pinstriped suit
Tim McInnerny wore a three-piece suit which included a textured waistcoat
Katherine Ryan wore an elegant red velvet mini dress with an embellished neckline
Myleene Klass looked incredible in a bright green sequin slip dress
Kelly Brook wore a quirky gown with a matching cape
Nadiya Bychkova stunned in a beaded gown
Jenni Falconer wore a black mini dress with cut-out sections and bows
But the star revealed on The Graham Norton Show that there was a lot of work to make him ready to play such an iconic role.
Of the regime that turned him into a Roman hunk, Paul told Graham: 'I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things. I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said 'There is a canvas to work with''.
'He went to town, and I saw him every day, It was fun,' before revealing he didn't totally embrace the strict rules.
'I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned'.
'I was petrified that they were going to take away everything, like drinking and I smoke. Everything fun,' he said.
Paul went on to say he asked his fitness trainer Tim Blakeley to help him work drinking and smoking into his rigorous training regime.
'I very earnestly was like, 'Look, Tim, I'm going to keep drinking and smoking for a little bit if I can,'' Paul recalled.
'He very kindly incorporated them, not into the workout routine, but just into my life.'
Kimberley Garner put on a glamorous display in a fitted gown with a daring cut-out
Una Healey dazzled in a plunging sequinned dress
Arabella Chi wore a strapless metallic gown
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu looked stunning in a corseted lace gown
Victoria Brown opted for an off-the-shoulder gold gown
Angel Chanteuse turned heads in a very quirky ensemble
Alex Loxton wore an elegant one-shoulder satin dress
Tiffany Diaz looked amazing in a black gown with a thigh-high leg slit
Ruby Redford held up a funny sign as she looked for Joseph Quinn
Bella Lindsay stunned in a cut-out sequinned dress
On Sunday Paul attended the premiere in his hometown of Dublin where he admitted ‘my heartbeat is going through the f****** roof’’.
He was joined on the red carpet by his mum, dad and sister and gushed that he was ‘really proud’ to be at the cinema in the town he grew up in.
Just this week, film fans began fighting over what the joint nickname for Wicked and Gladiator II should be.
Dubbed the new Barbenheimer, after Barbie and Oppenheimer went head-to-head at the box office in the summer of 2023, the upcoming films will both hit the big screen on November 22.
According to Deadline, Jon M. Chu's Wicked and Ridley Scott's Gladiator II are set to pull in huge takings on their opening weekends with the former expected to pull in over $80 million and the latter $65 million domestically.
