Mayday (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Mayday is a Cold War adventure comedy centered on a U.S. Navy pilot trapped behind enemy lines during a top-secret mission. To survive, he must rely on an eccentric former KGB agent, creating an uneasy partnership at the heart of the film.

Mayday brings action, adventure and comedy together in a Cold War story about an unlikely partnership. The film follows a U.S. Navy pilot whose mission goes wrong, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines with few options for survival.

His best chance comes through an eccentric ex-KGB agent, making the central relationship as important as the espionage setup. Directed and written by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the film features Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in the lead roles.

Mayday movie details

Story without spoilers

During the Cold War, U.S. Navy pilot Troy Kelly is sent on a top-secret mission that leaves him trapped behind enemy lines. With survival at stake, he must form an alliance with Nikolai Ustinov, an eccentric former KGB agent.

The premise places the pair in a dangerous situation shaped by military secrecy, divided loyalties and the complications of working with someone who was once connected to the opposing side. Their uneasy partnership provides the film’s main source of action and comedy without revealing how the mission unfolds.

What to expect

Mayday is positioned as a blend of adventure, comedy and action, with a Cold War setting and a buddy-comedy premise. The story’s tension comes from a fighter pilot operating behind enemy lines, while its lighter element comes from his reluctant alliance with an ex-KGB agent.

The supplied premise suggests a balance between espionage-oriented danger and character-based humor. The film is listed with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes and uses both English and Russian.

Cast and creative team

Ryan Reynolds plays Troy Kelly, the U.S. Navy pilot at the center of the story, while Kenneth Branagh portrays Nikolai Ustinov, the eccentric former KGB agent who becomes his unlikely ally. Maria Bakalova plays Anna Ustinov, Marcin Dorociński plays Alexander Volkov, and David Morse plays Harold Kelly.

The cast also includes Lovell Adams-Gray, Clark Johnson, Wendy Crewson, Louis Cancelmi and Donald Sales, who is credited as Captain S. Anderton. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley directed Mayday and also wrote the film.

• Ryan Reynolds as Troy Kelly
• Kenneth Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov
• Maria Bakalova as Anna Ustinov
• Marcin Dorociński as Alexander Volkov
• David Morse as Harold Kelly
• Lovell Adams-Gray
• Clark Johnson
• Wendy Crewson
• Louis Cancelmi
• Donald Sales as Captain S. Anderton

Release and production context

Mayday is listed as a 2026 film from the United States of America, with a release date of September 3, 2026. Its runtime is 1 hour and 50 minutes. The spoken languages are English and Russian.

The production companies attached to the film are Skydance Media, Maximum Effort and GoldDay. Its supplied genre classifications are Adventure, Comedy and Action.

Production companies: Skydance Media, Maximum Effort, GoldDay

Mayday official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

Mayday is built around a clear high-concept setup: a Navy pilot in enemy territory must depend on a former KGB agent whose loyalties and personality make the situation more complicated. With its Cold War backdrop, two-language setting and action-comedy format, the film offers a concise guide to an unlikely alliance under pressure.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb