Paul Mescal’s Gucci Suit From The ‘Gladiator II’ Premiere Will Echo In Eternity

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Paul Mescal attends the Australian premiere of “Gladiator II” at IMAX Darling Harbour on October 30, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA —“I just want to say this is absolutely f****** mad.” These were the first words Paul Mescal graced the thousands of cinephiles who attended the Australian premiere of Gladiator II at the ICC Sydney with.

Indeed, while guests were dressed in their best Roman cocktail attire—subtly wrapped sandals, column gowns and silk draping—the Academy Award nominee kickstarted the press tour for Ridley Scott’s epic sequel by doing the unusual. “I actually don’t want to talk too much about the film, because you’re about to see it and that curses something,” the 28-year-old began.

Disregarding the material you’ve flown halfway around the road to promote is bold. But as history (and the film) has proven, fortune favours these kinds of moves. Instead, Mescal equipped his Irish charm and addressed moviegoers for the warm reception and decision to watch the film on one of the largest screens in the harbour city.

“To be walking along the red carpet and see so many people so far away from home, it really isn’t lost on us,” he shared before adding, “Anyone who waited on that red carpet absolutely made my day.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Paul Mescal interacts with fans during the Australian Premiere of “Gladiator II” at Darling Harbour Theatre on October 30, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

When Russel Crowe brought the story of a renegade warrior trying to sack the seat of power from within the Colosseum walls to the big screen, it was hard to imagine how anyone else could step into his bronze armour. So, when Mescal stepped out of his sprinter van to the screams of adoring fans, it was apparent that casting him as the lead was an inspired choice.

Gladiator II sees Mescal star as Lucius Verus Aurelius, the grandson of the former Emperor who finds himself out of harm’s way in the African outpost of Numidia. Through the barbarity of warfare, Lucius finds himself a slave in the capital, reminded of the world he was forced to leave behind and the plagues of politics, obsession with power and utter violence that seep into the empire.

Along his journey, he meets arms dealer Macrinus (Denzel Washington), Roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and diabolical twin Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Connie Nielsen also reprises her role as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Michael Pruss, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen and Paul Mescal attend the Australian premiere of “Gladiator II” at IMAX Darling Harbour on October 30, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

So, to answer the question posed by Crowe’s Maximus in the 2000’s original, we are indeed entertained. Mescal, too, treated audiences to a form of sartorial amusement as he arrived in a lightweight barley-brown suit that paid homage to the wheat field scene from the first film. Eschewing traditional tailoring conventions, Mescal wore his custom Gucci suit over a peasant-style shirt that was made from a silk crepe and featured two strings that hung down his torso.

(For Connell Waldron fans, a peep at his chest hair was surprisingly delightful.) Brown has secretly overstepped black as the new preferred neutral, with suede iterations of the shade dominating the street style and darker chocolates overtaking the runway in collections from Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo, to name a few. 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Paul Mescal attends the Australian premiere of “Gladiator II” at ICC Sydney on October 30, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)

The 1975’s Matty Healy, his fiancé Gabriette, Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders were also present at the preview, making the event truly the place to be on a weekday night. With a run time of two and a half hours, the film isn’t for the faint of heart. And as Nielsen told the audience at the top of the screening: “Just hold onto your seats because it’s going to be an incredible ride.”

Gladiator II launches in Australian theatres on November 14 2024. In the meantime, watch the trailer below.