Ryan Reynolds And Kenneth Branagh Team Up For Comedy Thriller Mayday
Two people you might not expect to team up for a buddy spy comedy set in the Cold War are Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh- but that’s exactly who Apple TV is pairing for the upcoming film Mayday. The Deadpool star plays an American pilot who gets lost in enemy territory, while Branagh plays an ex-security agent on the other side of the Iron Curtain. They might come from opposite worlds, but are forced to work together to survive. Read on for all we know so far:
What is Mayday about?
Mayday takes place during the height of the Cold War and follows Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Reynolds), a cocky and highly skilled U.S. Navy pilot who is assigned a highly secretive mission over Soviet territory. But things quickly go disastrously wrong; however, when the operation falls apart, Troy is forced to crash-land and is left stranded behind enemy lines. Faced with seemingly impossible odds and the possibility of serious consequences if he’s found, Troy believes he’s doomed- until he encounters Nikolai Ustinov (played by Branagh), who’s a gruff ex-KGB operative.
Despite this, he has a particular fondness for American culture, and so is not immediately hostile. Both men represent opposing sides of the most tense geopolitical rivalry of the 20th century, but end up forced into an uneasy alliance as they search for a way to get Troy rescued.
As they attempt to survive the harsh Russian wilderness while evading the authorities, the pair gradually develop a friendship and a bond neither could have predicted. Apple has enticingly described the film as a “genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy” which “flips the spy thriller on its head”. But can they really evade being found out and caught? And how far will their newfound trust in each other really go?
Is there a trailer, and who else stars?
There’s been no trailer released yet, though Apple has released a few first-look images of Reynolds and Brannagh in action, mostly showcasing their odd-couple bond as they traverse the wintry wilderness of Soviet Russia.
Alongside the two leads, there’s a solid ensemble cast. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm breakout star Maria Bakalova features as Anna Ustinov, whom the pair meet along the way. Marcin Dorociński (The Queen’s Gambit), Louis Cancelmi (Killers of the Flower Moon) and David Morse (The Green Mile) are some of the other notable faces.
When does it release?
Mayday is set to premiere globally on Apple TV+ on 4 September 2026. Make sure to check back in for all the latest updates on the upcoming release.
