Dramatic Catwalk Finale Featuring Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody and More Hollywood Villains Comes to Life After Viral Death

By | May 24, 2024

They say the devil wears Prada; She actually wore it on the runway in 2012.

The brand did not choose traditional models to close its fall 2012 men’s show at Milan Fashion Week. Instead, a host of familiar villainous faces made their way to the podium: Willem Dafoe, Tim Roth, Adrien Brody, Gary Oldman, Emile Hirsch, Garrett Hedlund and Jamie Bell.

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The actors, known for playing antagonists in popular films ranging from “Spider-Man” to “Pulp Fiction,” wore simple suits, many complete with knee-length, double-breasted jackets, and looked their best at the audience. Menacing looks as you walk across the carpeted area.

For the collection, Miuccia Prada was inspired by men in power and how the use of fashion can convey authority or superiority. “Clothes are also an instrument of power and a way of expressing male vanity,” She told WWD at the time.

Even though the show was more than a decade ago, Prada’s Villains showcase has been trending on social media in recent months. Edits of performers walking the runway, including background music ranging from Lana Del Rey to David Bowie, went viral on TikTok.

More than a decade later, here’s a look back at the men who made the 2012 Milan Fashion Week catwalk finale one to remember.

Willem Dafoe

Prada Villains Fashion Show, Prada Villains Show, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Willem Dafoe walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)Prada Villains Fashion Show, Prada Villains Show, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Willem Dafoe walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Willem Dafoe walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

One of Dafoe’s most iconic roles is as the Green Goblin – aka Norman Osborn – in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” opposite Tobey Maguire. It’s no surprise that the character actor agreed to attend the Prada show; He is a proven fan of the brand and has been wearing their clothes for many years.

Tim Roth

Prada villains fashion show runway, Tim Roth walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Prada villainsPrada villains fashion show runway, Tim Roth walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Prada villains

Tim Roth walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Collaborating with Quentin Tarantino, Roth made memorable turns as a villain at the box office. He plays the thief Ringo/Pumpkin in “Pulp Fiction” and plays Emil Blonsky/The Abomination opposite Mark Ruffalo in “The Incredible Hulk.”

Adrien Brody

Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Adrien Brody walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Adrien Brody walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Adrien Brody walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning role in “The Pianist,” Brody is also known for portraying a variety of character types throughout his career. Among them, he played the villain Dmitri in Wes Anderson’s hit feature film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and became a fan-favorite villain in “Peaky Blinders.” When it comes to fashion, it was announced last year that the actor would be partnering with Bally to design a capsule collection.

Gary Oldman

Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Gary Oldman walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Gary Oldman walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Gary Oldman walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Oldman has played many villains throughout his career, but “Léon: The Professional” is considered one of his best villain roles. He plays Norman Stansfield, a corrupt and murderous DEA agent.

Emile Hirsch

Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Emile Hirsch walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Emile Hirsch walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Emile Hirsch walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Memorably, in the movie “Killer Joe,” Hirsch plays a young drug dealer who hires a hitman to kill his mother in exchange for insurance money. Apart from acting, he took part in fashion campaigns of brands such as Rag and Bone.

Garrett Hedlund

Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Garrett Hedlund walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Garrett Hedlund walks the runway at the Prada Fall Winter 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Garrett Hedlund walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Although best known for “Tron,” Hedlund played a homicidal gang leader in “Death Sentence,” which also starred Kevin Bacon.

Remembering Prada’s ‘Bad Guys’ Runway, A Runway Performer from Hollywood’s Anti-Heroes: Willem Dafoe, Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody and More [PHOTOS]

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: (FRANCE RELEASED) Garrett Hedlund walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 - 2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: (FRANCE RELEASED) Garrett Hedlund walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 - 2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: (FRANCE RELEASED) Garrett Hedlund walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 – 2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy. (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: (FRANCE OUT) French actor Alexandre Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 - 2013 Ready-to-Wear fashion show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: (FRANCE OUT) French actor Alexandre Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 - 2013 Ready-to-Wear fashion show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: (FRANCE OUT) French actor Alexandre Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 – 2013 Ready-to-Wear fashion show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy. (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: French actor Victor Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: French actor Victor Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 15: French actor Victor Carril walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Ready-to-Wear show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy. (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

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Jamie Bell

Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Jamie Bell walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Ready-to-Wear fashion show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)Prada villains fashion show runway, MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Actor Jamie Bell walks the runway during the Prada Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Ready-to-Wear fashion show during Milan Men's Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Jamie Bell walks the runway at the Prada Fall 2012 fashion show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 15, 2012 in Milan.

Bell plays a criminal in the action thriller “Man on a Ledge,” opposite Sam Worthington. The actor has shown his interest in fashion by attending fashion shows over the years.

Prada Villains Fashion Show, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, PhotosPrada Villains Fashion Show, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Photos

Prada Villains Fashion Show, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Photos

Launch Gallery: Remembering Prada’s ‘Villains’ Runway, A Runway Performer from Hollywood’s Anti-Heroes: Willem Dafoe, Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody and More [PHOTOS]

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