Ryan Reynolds & Kenneth Branagh Team Up in Apple's 'Mayday' Trailer
The action-comedy, set during the Cold War, premieres globally on Apple TV in September 2026.
- ▸A U.S. Navy pilot is stranded behind enemy lines during the Cold War.
- ▸Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh lead an unlikely buddy-comedy pairing.
- ▸The film is an Apple Original set for a global streaming premiere in September 2026.
When a U.S. Navy pilot on a top-secret mission during the Cold War gets trapped behind enemy lines, his only chance at survival is to form an alliance with an eccentric ex-KGB agent.
- 1Premise — A U.S. Navy pilot must ally with an ex-KGB agent to survive behind enemy lines.
- 2Main Cast — Ryan Reynolds as Troy Kelly and Kenneth Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov are confirmed.
- 3Release Platform — The film is an Apple Original and will stream exclusively on Apple TV.
- Director
- Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
- Starring
- Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Maria Bakalova
- Release
- 2026
- Genre
- Adventure, Comedy, Action
Apple Original Films has officially released the trailer for its upcoming action-comedy, “Mayday.” The film, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, is set to premiere globally on Apple TV on September 4, 2026, according to a press release from Apple.
What is 'Mayday' about?
The movie is a genre-bending buddy comedy set during the Cold War. Ryan Reynolds plays Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly, a hotshot U.S. Navy pilot whose top-secret mission into Russian territory goes wrong, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. His only hope for survival is an unlikely alliance with Nikolai Ustinov, a gruff ex-KGB agent played by Kenneth Branagh.
Who else is in the cast?
The supporting cast includes Maria Bakalova as Anna Ustinov, Marcin Dorociński as Alexander Volkov, and David Morse as Harold Kelly. Lovell Adams-Gray, Clark Johnson, and Wendy Crewson also appear. The film is co-directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who also co-wrote and produced it together. Production is from Skydance Media and Reynolds’s own Maximum Effort.
When and where can I watch it?
“Mayday” is an Apple Original Film and will be available exclusively on Apple TV. The global streaming premiere is scheduled for September 4, 2026. As of July 2026, it is not slated for a theatrical release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is directing 'Mayday'?
The film is co-directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who also co-wrote and produced it together.
What kind of movie is 'Mayday'?
Apple describes it as a “genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy” that flips the spy thriller on its head. The official synopsis confirms its adventure, comedy, and action genres, set against the backdrop of the Cold War.
Will 'Mayday' be in theaters?
No. According to the release information, “Mayday” is a streaming-original film for Apple TV. It is scheduled to premiere directly on the platform in September 2026 with no announced theatrical run.
Who plays the ex-KGB agent?
Kenneth Branagh portrays Nikolai Ustinov, the eccentric former KGB agent who forms an unlikely partnership with Ryan Reynolds’s stranded Navy pilot.
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