Last night, the cast of Peacock’s new series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist turned the show’s red carpet premiere into a full-on fashion extravaganza that wouldn’t have looked out of place on Soul Train. The eight-episode series is set at Muhammad Ali’s legendary 1970 heavyweight fight in Atlanta—where a savvy group of thieves used the event as cover to pull off a daring heist. With a stacked lineup boasting Kevin Hart (who, along with Will Packer, is also producing), Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, and Chloe Bailey, the stars were out in full effect to celebrate the show’s launch at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. And they all understood the assignment with fits that were very much on theme, turning what could have been a rote Hollywood affair into something closer to a classic player’s ball.
Pimp canes, cocked fedoras, and flared trousers abounded, with Packer going full tilt with an ascot for good measure. His co-producer Hart kept things a little more era-neutral with a sharp gray suit and a diamond necklace. The red carpet kicked off with a runway presentation, featuring a series of GQ-curated looks inspired by 1970s couture: model Joe Baxter sported a Rhude pinstripe suit and fur coat that may as well be dubbed the Full Frank Lucas; Andre Brown, meanwhile, almost out-Samuel L. Jackson-ed the real Samuel L. in a newsboy cap and Dunhill coat. Elsewhere, a replica of Lenny Santiago’s famous gold office couch was set up for photo ops, with stars like Lori Harvey popping over to get flicked up by Santiago himself.
But the most attention-grabbing look of the night belonged to none other than Terrence Howard, who pulled up in a wide-lapelled gray suit with an open collar shirt, suede boots, and his hair permed just like his 1970s character in the show. Leave it to the always flamboyant Howard to take style inspiration from a role and adopt it as his own.
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist premieres on Peacock on September 5.
