Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh lead the Mayday cast as Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly and Nikolai Ustinov. Their unlikely Cold War alliance is the film’s character engine, while Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorociński and David Morse fill out the named supporting roles.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Ryan Reynolds | Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly |
| Kenneth Branagh | Nikolai Ustinov |
| Maria Bakalova | Anna Ustinov |
| Marcin Dorociński | Alexander Volkov |
| David Morse | Harold Kelly |
Ryan Reynolds as Troy “Assassin” Kelly
Troy is a hotshot U.S. Navy pilot sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory at the height of the Cold War. The operation implodes and leaves him behind enemy lines, turning the man who arrived with the aircraft and plan into someone who must depend on a stranger to survive.
The “Assassin” callsign suggests confidence, but the premise immediately strips Troy of control. Reynolds is therefore playing both halves of the movie’s tone: a capable action lead and the displaced half of an odd-couple comedy.
Kenneth Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov
Nikolai is a gruff former KGB agent who discovers Troy in Soviet territory. He also has a fondness for American culture, a detail that complicates the usual Cold War divide before the pair have even decided whether to trust each other.
Nikolai is not simply a local guide. Troy’s rescue depends on their alliance, which gives Branagh’s character leverage over the stranded pilot. The comedy comes from the mismatch; the suspense comes from whether cooperation can hold when nationality, history and immediate danger all push them apart.
How Troy and Nikolai drive the story
The film flips the expected spy-thriller power balance. Troy begins as the operative crossing into hostile territory, but Nikolai becomes the person with the knowledge and freedom to move. Their relationship has to travel from suspicion to practical cooperation before an escape is possible.
That makes Mayday a two-hander at its core. The mission supplies the chase, while the growing bond supplies the reason to care about the chase. Daley and Goldstein’s premise is less interested in an invincible agent than in what happens when survival requires trusting the person the era has taught you to fear.
Maria Bakalova as Anna Ustinov
Maria Bakalova plays Anna Ustinov. Apple names the character on its official movie listing, but its synopsis does not explain Anna’s place in Troy’s escape or define her relationship with Nikolai. Matching surnames alone are not enough to assign a family connection.
That leaves Anna as a confirmed character whose story function is deliberately being held back in the advance material. The useful distinction is simple: Bakalova is not appearing in an unnamed part, but claims about whether Anna helps, hinders or redirects the central pair would go beyond what Apple has announced.
Marcin Dorociński as Alexander Volkov
Marcin Dorociński plays Alexander Volkov. Apple confirms the actor-character pairing without identifying Volkov’s rank, allegiance or exact position in the pursuit. He belongs to the named supporting ensemble, but describing him as the villain or lead pursuer before Apple does would be an assumption.
David Morse as Harold Kelly
David Morse plays Harold Kelly. As with Anna and Volkov, the official listing gives viewers a name but not a full role description. Harold shares Troy’s surname, although the advance synopsis does not state the nature of their connection.
Who made Mayday?
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein wrote and directed Mayday. The credited producers include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Ashley Fox, Johnny Pariseau, Goldstein and Daley, with Reynolds among the executive producers.
The film premieres globally on Apple TV on September 4, 2026. Our Mayday OTT release guide covers India availability, runtime, rating and subtitle options. The Mayday review gives the film 3.5/5, with Kenneth Branagh emerging as the odd-couple adventure’s strongest reason to watch. If you are planning the weekend queue, our August 31 to September 6 streaming guide places it beside the week’s other India launches.
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