Kenneth Branagh discusses Mayday at the film’s world premiere, including working with Ryan Reynolds and the chemistry behind the unlikely friendship between their American and Russian characters. Branagh also talks about playing Nikolai Ustinov and bringing the character to the action, humor and physical filmmaking of the Apple TV film.
Branagh reflects on Mayday’s throwback to the classic buddy movies of the 1980s and how the film captures that old-school spirit while telling its own distinctive story. At the center of the movie is the unexpected relationship between two very different characters, whose partnership gives the genre-bending action comedy its humor and heart.
Set during the Cold War, Mayday stars Ryan Reynolds as U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly, who becomes stranded in Russian territory during a top-secret mission. Branagh stars as Nikolai Ustinov, a former KGB agent whose unexpected alliance with Troy turns the traditional spy thriller on its head. Mayday premieres globally September 4, 2026, on Apple TV.