Ryan Reynolds has made a career of talking his way out of impossible situations. This September, he’ll have to charm his way out of Cold War Russia in “Mayday,” a new Apple TV comedy thriller about an American pilot stranded behind enemy lines.
The film reunites co-writers and directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, continuing a partnership that has produced some of Hollywood’s most successful studio comedies and blockbusters. Daley, who began his career playing Sam Weir on the beloved but short-lived early-aughts series “Freaks and Geeks,” eventually stepped behind the camera and joined forces with Goldstein. Together, they have worked on films including “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” and the “Horrible Bosses” franchise.
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The duo has also been tapped to direct a new take on “Star Trek,” a natural next step after successfully navigating major franchises such as “Spider-Man” and “Dungeons & Dragons.” “Mayday” may not arrive with the same built-in audience, but the original feature has Reynolds’ considerable star power behind it and a premise that blends espionage, action, comedy, and an unlikely Cold War friendship.
Set at the height of the Cold War, the film stars Reynolds as Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly, a hotshot U.S. Navy pilot sent on a top-secret mission inside Russian territory. When the operation falls apart, Troy finds himself stranded behind enemy lines and at the mercy of Nikolai Ustinov (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff former KGB agent with an unexpected affection for American culture. What begins as an uneasy alliance may become Troy’s only chance of making it home—and lead to a bond neither man anticipated.
The cast also includes Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorociński, and David Morse.
Daley and Goldstein produce alongside David Ellison, Ashley Fox, Dana Goldberg, Patrick Gooing, Don Granger, and Johnny Pariseau. Reynolds, George Dewey, and John G. Scotti serve as executive producers.
“Mayday” arrives on Apple TV on September 4. Watch the first trailer below.
