Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott showed off their close bond as they arrived at the London premiere of Gladiator II at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Wednesday. 

The actor and the director looked like the best of friends as they laughed and joked on the red carpet after Paul revealed they had a ‘huge argument’ during the filming. 

Paul, 28, plays the former heir to the Roman Empire Lucius Verus in the blockbuster directed by filmmaker Ridley, 86. 

As the pair posed side by side ahead of the screening, the Irish star slung his arm around Ridley’s neck and chatted away with him.

The conversation seemed to tickle the Alien director who chuckled at his remarks. 

Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott showed off their close bond as they arrived at the London premiere of Gladiator II at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Wednesday 

The actor and the director looked like the best of friends as they laughed and joked on the red carpet after Paul revealed they had a ‘huge argument’ during the filming 

Later on in the evening, Paul pulled a series of silly poses alongside the legendary filmmaker, pointing and putting his thumbs up while Ridley sheepishly grinned next to him. 

Ridley and the Normal People star were later joined by Denzel Washington and the trio posed underneath an archway in the matching black tuxedos before heading in to watch the film. 

Ridley was all smiles as he was joined by the stars and chatted away with the duo before standing centre stage for a full cast pH๏τo. 

For the London premiere, Paul looked effortlessly stylish in a black suit and an open white shirt with an undone bow collar. 

Ridley looked very dapper in a velvet double breasted blazer, white dress shirt and a black bow tie.

Paul previously shared the insane bet he had with Ridley over one Gladiator II stunt that caused a huge argument between pair.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair the actor told how there was a scene towards the end of the film where a weary Lucius mounts a horse in H๏τ 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.

As the two posed side by side ahead of the screening, Paul slung his arm around Ridley’s neck and chatted away with him

Ridley and the Normal People star were later joined by Denzel Washington and the trio posed underneath an archway in the matching black tuxedos before heading in to watch the film

For the London premiere, Paul looked effortlessly stylish in a black suit and an open white shirt with an undone bow collar

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.’

Read More Paul Mescal reveals his ‘heartbeat is going through the f***ing roof’ at the Gladiator II premiere

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 ᴅᴇᴀᴅ 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).

Paul previously shared the insane bet he had with Ridley over one Gladiator II stunt that caused a huge argument between pair 

In an interview with Vanity Fair the actor told how there was a scene towards the end of the film that he ‘trained for f***ing months’ for – before Ridley changed his mind

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’  

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. 

Early reviews from critics have called Gladiator II the ‘best movie of the year’ and a ‘true epic’ as they hailed Paul and Denzel’s performances.