Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh: 'Mayday' Friendship Unveiled

The adage that actors don't need to be friends to achieve compelling on-screen chemistry has long been accepted in Hollywood, with famous duos like Abbott and Costello or Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor proving that professional performance can transcend personal relationships. However, the exuberant new '80s-throwback action-comedy Mayday, now streaming on Apple TV, offers a vibrant counter-narrative, showcasing a palpable real-life camaraderie between its stars, Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh.

The film itself follows an intriguing premise: Reynolds' hotshot Navy pilot, Troy, crashes during a top-secret mission, falling into the yard of Nikolai, an isolated, Americana-obsessed ex-KGB agent living in rural Russia, played by Branagh. Described by Reynolds as a "guy who lives in the woods like Ted Kaczynski, whose only movie that he watches over and over again is Top Gun on a bootleg VHS," Nikolai embarked on a wild, Midnight Run-esque journey to help Troy navigate enemy territory during the final days of the Cold War. Their perilous trip across the country subtly transforms into a journey of mutual understanding, breaking down era-specific Cold War stereotypes.

Despite the initial assumption that their on-screen warmth was purely professional, the instant familiarity between Reynolds and Branagh was evident from their very first meeting. Branagh vividly recalls Reynolds launching into a sentence during a camera test "as if we were just picking up the sentence from the last conversation that we must have had," a deliberate tactic Reynolds explains: "I like to confuse my co-stars by beginning our first conversation, 'And furthermore.'" This immediate rapport never faded, leading Reynolds to confidently state, "I think people can tell that we love each other. When we met, it felt like we had known each other for 20 years." Their genuine connection offers a unique insight into the true ingredients of an effective buddy movie.

According to Reynolds, a veteran of the buddy movie genre with acclaimed performances in films like The Proposal, The Hitman's Bodyguard, and the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, the secret lies beyond mere friendship. "Every movie that works is a love story on some level," he asserts, emphasizing that this "love" extends to the craft of acting, the conventions of buddy comedies, and crucially, the desire to elevate one's co-star. This philosophy champions teamwork and generosity over individual glory. Branagh echoed this sentiment, recalling his admiration for the "generous" acting he observed in The Hitman's Bodyguard, noting that audiences can "smell it when actually the real thing is there." Reynolds elaborated, "When the actors are trying to win the scene, it doesn't work. The characters are trying to win the scene, of course. But the actors need to be there to share and support and try to hit the ball back and forth with each other. You want to get a rally going. You don't want to get an ace."

This authentic connection directly influenced their performance on the set of Mayday. A notable example, immortalized approximately 51 minutes into the film, occurred when directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley spontaneously asked the actors to continue their casual walk and conversation directly onto set for a scene. Reynolds and Branagh, already "in lockstep" and chatting, seamlessly transitioned into character. As Branagh described, "it had been one organic and almost seamless development from a chat from the trailers," leading to a moment where "there was a big neon light going on that just said, ‘No acting, no schmacting’"—a testament to their natural synergy.

Adding another layer to their collaboration, Reynolds juggled the final edits and touches for Deadpool & Wolverine throughout Mayday's spring 2024 shoot, a dual workload necessitated by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Branagh was deeply impressed by Reynolds' ability to remain "entirely and fully present" in his Mayday role despite the immense pressure. He praised Reynolds' "beautiful obsession" in perfecting Deadpool & Wolverine while simultaneously delivering a captivating performance, highlighting a rare gift among great actors.

Mayday also served as a dynamic arena for both actors to bravely venture beyond their established comfort zones. Branagh, renowned for his highbrow adaptations of Shakespeare and Agatha Christie, and Oscar-winning drama Belfast, surprised many by taking on the role of Nikolai—a sweet, Springsteen-obsessed goofball capable of surprising action. This marked his first action-comedy in over 25 years and his debut in highly choreographed, John Wick-style fight sequences. Reynolds observed that Branagh's performance made it appear as if "this is the trade he's plied since day one," a truly revelatory pivot for the 65-year-old actor. Conversely, Reynolds, known for his quick wit and comedic timing, embraced the role of Troy as the buttoned-up, patriotic straight man, expertly anchoring the film's "peaks and valleys" to allow Branagh's character to flourish. This mutual daring and support left Reynolds deeply inspired, teaching him the importance of "always be striving toward that thing that must feel uncomfortable or must be unexpected."

Beyond their professional synergy, Reynolds and Branagh discovered surprising commonalities. Despite their seemingly disparate backgrounds, they share a fervent passion for football (soccer)—Reynolds as co-owner of Wales' Wrexham A.F.C., and Branagh as a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. They also bond over a mutual love for both classic and "silly" movies, finding appreciation where a "film snob might go, ‘Oh, that's a dreadful piece of shit.’" Intriguingly, both also appreciate comfortable silence and possess a genuine curiosity for others, a trait Branagh likened to Dame Judi Dench's enduring desire to meet people.

While Mayday is set against the backdrop of the Cold War, its central message transcends historical context, offering a timely commentary on looking beyond initial presumptions and stereotypes. Reynolds highlighted how the film brilliantly portrays two characters who have "completely and totally mythologized each other" before meeting, only for Nikolai to demonstrate a nuanced understanding that breaks down the Cold War animosity. Branagh, who has played several Russian characters, including antagonists in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Tenet, sees Nikolai as a kinder portrayal that delves into Western culture's persistent "obsession" with Russia, viewing it as "some kind of brother that we have not found peace with yet." He suggests that the film, like great art, "smuggles messages into popular works," investigating "why do we have this problem with difference?" and encouraging the embrace of "a useful gray area."

The collaboration on Mayday has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on both stars. Reynolds lauded Branagh's ability to achieve new "revelation" in his career, despite an "almost impossible height" of prior achievements, describing it as "the good stuff" of acting. As the film begins streaming, audiences can witness not just a compelling action-comedy, but also the rare and inspiring alchemy of two brilliant actors who found a genuine friendship and a shared artistic vision.