Only weeks to go until Ryan Reynolds’ next big movie before his MCU return
Ryan Reynolds’ next film before his Marvel Cinematic Universe return is only weeks off, with Apple TV+ readying its next original release.
Right, if you've ever wondered what Ryan Reynolds gets up to when he's not quipping his way through superhero films, he's about to pop up in a proper Cold War romp for Apple TV+. Their latest original film, Mayday, is dropping in a matter of weeks, and frankly, it sounds like a strange one—think Top Gun merges with a Russian buddy comedy, if you can picture it.
Mayday lands on Apple TV+ on 4 September 2026.
Spy Drama, Reynolds-Style
The set-up goes like this: the story takes place at the height of the Cold War, with Ryan Reynolds as U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy 'Assassin' Kelly. He's given a secret mission deep inside Soviet airspace—naturally, it all goes to absolute pot. His plane goes down, he's forced to bail out, and finds himself stranded, alone, and very much unwelcome behind enemy lines.
The twist here isn't just the usual running, hiding, and shooting. Instead, Troy is discovered by Kenneth Branagh, who's playing Nikolai Ustinov—a former KGB officer who, for reasons only Hollywood logic can really explain, is bizarrely fond of all things American. Instead of shooting Troy on sight, Ustinov decides to help him. Cue a fairly odd, cross-cultural survival tale, with the two developing an unexpected friendship while dodging the KGB and figuring out how the hell Troy is supposed to escape.
Trailer Tease and Who Else Is In It
We've already had a trailer, and if you're expecting some gritty espionage, you might be surprised. Reynolds wakes up tied to a bed in a remote Russian cabin, only to learn that Ustinov has patched him up—something about a severed artery and no anaesthetic, which is an introduction you wouldn't forget in a hurry. The footage leans heavily into the awkward comedy of two sworn enemies trying to get by together, rather than straight-up Cold War thriller vibes.
Outside of Reynolds and Branagh (who is clearly relishing the idea of ex-KGB eccentricity), the supporting cast includes Maria Bakalova as Anna Ustinov, Marcin Dorocinski as Alexander Volkov, and David Morse as Harold Kelly—so, a decent line-up. As for the writing and direction, both are down to the duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley—the team previously behind Game Night, so expect quick banter and some swerve away from pure action.