London Film Festival kicks off with Jay-Z, Idris Elba and Regina King on the red carpet

Western 'The Harder They Fall' was the opening night feature at the BFI London Film Festival

Jonathan Majors, Jay-Z, Regina King, Jeymes Samuel, Idris Elba and James Lassiter attend the 'The Harder They Fall' world premiere during the 65th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall in London on Wednesday, October 6. Getty Images

Jay Z is a producer of 'The Harder They Fall'. Getty Images

Idris Elba with his wife Sabrina Dhowre and his daughter Isan Elba. EPA

'The Harder They Fall' star Regina King. EPA

Jonathan Majors at the premiere. Getty Images

Singer Alesha Dixon also attended the premiere. EPA

US musician and rapper Kid Cudi on the red carpet. EPA

Jamaican-born British actor Micheal Ward attends 'The Harder They Fall' premiere. Getty Images

Director Jeymes Samuel attends the premiere of his film 'The Harder They Fall'. Getty Images

Designer Ozwald Boateng, Vanessa Kingori of British Vogue and fashion editor Edward Enninful walk the red carpet at the premiere. Getty Images

English actor Andy Serkis, left, with his son Louis attends "The Harder They Fall" screening. Getty Images

DJ and presenter Reggie Yates on the red carpet. Getty Images

Rege-Jean Page of the 'Bridgerton'. EPA

French-Egyptian fashion designer Christian Louboutin on the red carpet. EPA

Actress Zaria Simone. EPA

Singer Mayra Andrade. Getty Images

Khali Best attends 'The Harder They Fall' premiere. Getty Images

American comedian and actor Deon Cole. Getty Images

'The Harder They Fall' co-producer James Lassiter. Getty Images

The BFI London Film Festival has started in the British capital, attracting a host of stars for the world premiere of The Harder They Fall on Wednesday night.

Stars of the Netflix Western, Idris Elba, Regina King and Jonathan Majors, walked the red carpet, along with director, Jeymes Samuel and rapper Jay-Z, who is a producer on the film.

The premiere took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

The film is based on the story of real-life figures from American history. Outlaw Nat Love (Majors) finds out that his enemy, Rufus Buck (Elba), is set to be released from prison and sets out to exact revenge, with the help of his gang.

Jay-Z has written and produced original music for the project.

Speaking of the importance of seeing black characters in Western films, Jay-Z said, “Just to see us represented, you know, with a lot of films we didn't see ourselves in Westerns, as if we didn’t exist.

“It is almost odd, people think that it's like a caricature, that they are playing roles, but they’re not playing roles.

“These names like Stagecoach Mary, all the actors in this, they really existed in this time, so just see us represented and see that we have voices.”

Elba echoed Jay-Z, telling the PA news agency: “It’s really interesting that these characters really existed one time. No one ever knows about them.

“Any Western fan would be like, 'Really? I never heard of Rufus Buck,' but he was a real guy so it's very special.”

The BFI London Film Festival runs until Sunday, October 17