Mayday brings Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh to Apple TV+ in September

TL;DR

Apple TV+ has just locked in 4 September 2026 for Mayday, an action-comedy that pairs the brilliant chaos of Ryan Reynolds with the sheer gravitas of Kenneth Branagh.

It’s a Cold War buddy-movie where a hotshot US Navy pilot (Reynolds) gets stranded in Russia and has to team up with an ex-KGB operative (Branagh). It looks like an incredibly fun, fast-moving film that’s designed to be a massive streaming event rather than just filler.

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Let’s be honest, that lead pairing is the whole pitch, and it’s a fantastic one. You’ve got Reynolds doing what he does best – turning high-concept action into pure personality – clashing against Branagh’s deliberate, theatrical screen presence. Putting those two incredibly different energies together in a spy thriller gone wrong sounds like an absolute riot.

Apple is clearly treating Mayday like a proper big-hitter. They’ve teamed up with Skydance and Reynolds’ own Maximum Effort production company, which gives it the scale and polish of a massive blockbuster release.

The supporting cast is also superb, featuring Maria Bakalova and David Morse, which adds some nice weight around the two stars. But realistically, Apple knows what they’re selling here: Reynolds and Branagh arguing their way out of a Cold War disaster.

It’s a brilliantly clean, simple hook for a streaming movie. We haven’t got a trailer just yet, but that first-look image alone is enough to get us excited. If you’re looking for a proper popcorn watch as we head into autumn, 4 September on Apple TV+ is the date to remember.