Apple TV+ Announces Mayday Starring Reynolds, Branagh

Apple TV+ has announced the upcoming release of "Mayday," an action-packed buddy comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, set to premiere on the streaming platform on September 4, 2025. The film, revealed during a press event in Santa Monica on Tuesday, blends spy thriller elements with humor, centering on an unlikely alliance formed behind enemy lines during the Cold War.

In the story, Reynolds portrays Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly, a hotshot U.S. Navy pilot dispatched on a top-secret mission into Russian territory. When the operation goes awry, Troy finds himself stranded and captured by Nikolai Ustinov, played by Branagh, a gruff former KGB agent with an unexpected fondness for American culture. Initially fearing for his life, Troy discovers that Nikolai chooses alliance over betrayal, and the pair embarks on a perilous journey to escape, forging a bond amid the high-stakes tension.

The ensemble cast also includes Marcin Dorocinski, Maria Bakalova, and David Morse. A first-look image released by Apple TV+ shows Reynolds and Branagh lying exhausted in the snow, disheveled and side by side, capturing the film's mix of exhaustion and camaraderie.