Canadian-American actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds returned to screen headlines with the official premiere of his new action-comedy film Mayday, which debuted on Apple TV+ on September 4, 2026. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the film stars Reynolds as Lieutenant Troy Kelly, a U.S. Navy pilot who finds himself stranded behind enemy lines during a covert Cold War mission. Reynolds joined co-star Kenneth Branagh for premiere promotional events in New York City leading up to the film's global streaming release.
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Reynolds began his career in Canadian television before transitioning to Hollywood feature films in the late 1990s. He gained early comedy prominence in films such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder and The Proposal. His career reached new commercial heights when he originated the titular superhero in 2016's Deadpool, a passion project that broke box-office records for R-rated films and launched a massive blockbuster franchise, establishing Reynolds as a top-tier global superstar and producer.
Beyond his acting filmography, Reynolds has built a prominent business portfolio across media, sports, and spirits. He co-owned Aviation American Gin prior to its acquisition by Diageo and held a major ownership stake in Mint Mobile until its sale to T-Mobile. In 2020, Reynolds co-acquired Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. alongside actor Rob McElhenney, a story documented in the hit FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which expanded his global pop culture presence beyond traditional feature films.
Mayday represents Reynolds' latest collaboration with a major streaming platform, following previous successes on Netflix and Apple TV+. Produced in collaboration with Skydance Media and Apple Original Films, the Cold War thriller mixes high-octane action with buddy-comedy dynamics between Reynolds and Branagh. The project highlights Apple's ongoing strategy of securing star-driven blockbuster features for its digital catalog during the competitive early autumn streaming window.
With Mayday now available to subscribers worldwide, Reynolds continues to manage his expansive slate of production projects through his company Maximum Effort. He is slated to oversee multiple film and television developments in the coming months while maintaining his active roles across executive business ventures and sports management.
