Ryan Reynolds & Kenneth Branagh headline new action-comedy

Apple TV+ has revealed new information on Mayday, an upcoming action-comedy feature starring Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh that is slated to premiere globally on the streaming service on September 4, 2026. 

The streamer debuted a first-look image from the film during its press event, offering a sneak peek at the high-energy project that blends action, comedy and a Cold War-era narrative.

Produced as an Apple Original Film in partnership with Skydance Media and Maximum Effort, Mayday is described as a “genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy” that turns the traditional spy-thriller on its head. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story follows Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Reynolds), a hotshot U.S. Navy pilot whose top-secret mission into Russian territory during the Cold War goes awry, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines.

There he encounters Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent with an unexpected fondness for American culture. The unlikely pair must form an alliance to survive and find a way out.

Moreover, the ensemble cast also includes Marcin Dorocinski, Maria Bakalova and David Morse, among others. 

As per the outlet, the film is written, directed and produced by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the creative team behind hits like Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves.

Mayday adds to Apple TV+’s growing slate of star-studded originals for 2026 and marks another major collaboration between Reynolds and the streaming platform.