Maya Jama and Kaya Scodelario led the red carpet arrivals as the cast of Guy Ritchie's crime drama The Gentlemen attended the season two premiere at London's Guildhall Art Gallery.
Jama, 32, made her first appearance at a premiere as an actress, having joined the series to play Aisha, the gangster's moll wife of a criminal associate of Eddie Horniman.
The Love Island host wore a daringly cut leather gown, custom-made by R&M Leathers and styled by Rhea Francois.
Scodelario, 34, returns as impeccably styled mobster's daughter Susie Glass, whose father Bobby runs a weed empire on English country estates.
The actress was photographed leaving her London hotel before the event, where she wore a semi-sheer custom Paolo Sebastian corset gown and diamonds.
Theo James, who plays duke-turned-crime-boss Eddie Horniman, wore a bespoke suit. He was supported by his wife, Irish actress Ruth Kearney, and posed for photographs with Scodelario.
Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Sabrina, wore a dramatic gold-chained gown to the event. She twirled and shrugged her shoulders for the army of photographers.
Ritchie and cast return
Director Guy Ritchie attended with his 26-year-old son Rocco, whom he shares with his ex-wife Madonna, and his second wife, Jacqui Ainsley, 44. Ritchie held Ainsley's hand and wrapped his arm around his son. Ainsley wore a chic kimono and silver heels.
Hugh Bonneville attended alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova. Bonneville joins the cast for the new series as the colourful Lord Hawthorne.
Vinnie Jones returns as stoic gamekeeper Geoffrey Seacombe. Jones put on an animated display in a tweed suit and was accompanied by his partner Emma Ford. The couple debuted their relationship in 2024, following the 2019 death of Jones's wife Tanya from cancer.
Ray Winstone made a grand entrance to the event. Winstone, who plays drug baron Bobby Glass, attended with his 41-year-old daughter, actress Jamie Winstone. The Strictly Come Dancing star wore a feathered mini dress.
Giancarlo Esposito, who returns as Stanley Johnston, put on an animated display in a semi-sheer black satin shirt.
The cast posed for group photographs featuring Esposito, Richardson, Winstone, James, Scodelario, Jasmine Blackborow and Jones.
Other attendees included Daniel Ings, who reprises his role as Eddie's not-so-clever brother Freddy Horniman, and boxer Chris Eubank Jr, who plays a fighter in the second series. Ruby Sear wore a royal blue satin dress, Blackborow wore a floral minidress, and Lottie Moss wore an embellished bow mini dress from Karen Millen, on sale for £90.30. James Haskall attended in a burgundy suit, while Jade Holland Cooper, the founder and managing director of British fashion label Holland Cooper, wore her own brand from head to toe.
Empire expansion
The second season of the comedy-drama releases on Netflix today. Set a year after Eddie and Susie joined forces to work overseas as part of Bobby's operation, the new series follows their attempts to expand their criminal empire.
In a trailer released ahead of the premiere, Eddie is seen looking over his sprawling grounds. "400 years ago, this estate spread out as far as the eye could see," he says. "I want it all back."
Bobby is aware of their ambitions, telling Eddie and Susie he knows they are hoping he might support their efforts to decriminalise marijuana. Esposito's character is also seen encouraging Eddie to take over, telling him: "Forge your own path. Move away from Bobby Glass."
With Bobby standing in the way of their expansion, Eddie and Susie must decide whether to fall in line with the kingpin's recent decisions or make their own moves.
Meghan Markle casting claims
Ahead of the premiere, royal author Tina Brown claimed that Meghan Markle had been offered a role in a potential third instalment of the show, but that the offer was subsequently withdrawn.
Writing in her Fresh Hell Substack newsletter, Brown said the reaction in Britain to the casting news became too intense. "I learned that the casting of Meghan Markle has been withdrawn," she wrote. "The backlash was so intense it became untenable to go forward. This does not bode well for Markle's acting comeback."
The former British royal previously said she had no plans to return to acting, telling Variety magazine in 2022: "I'm done. I guess never say never but my intention is to absolutely not."
However, sources close to the duchess have reportedly touted her return to the screen as one of the reasons she and Prince Harry are returning to Britain.
