FILM · 2026 · USA
Mayday
- Directed by
- Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Studio
- Skydance Media, Maximum Effort, GoldDay
17 archived facts 4 topics 3 sources Last reviewed Sep 2026
When a U.S. Navy pilot on a top-secret mission during the Cold War gets trapped behind enemy lines, his only chance at survival is to form an alliance with an eccentric ex-KGB agent.
Summary: TMDB
All facts (17)
- #001
Mayday was announced in June 2023 as an original action adventure film in development for Apple TV+, with Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley writing and directing.
- #002
The film is adapted from Thomas Block's 1979 novel, which was updated and reissued in 1998 by Block and Nelson DeMille.
- #003
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh were set for the lead roles in Mayday, with Reynolds also producing through Maximum Effort.
- #004
Directed by T. J. Scott, the production aired on CBS on October 2, 2005.
- #005
In April 2024, Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorociński, Lovell Adams-Gray and Clark Johnson joined the cast of Mayday.
- #006
The project was initially prepared for TNT Network for the 2003-2004 season, but was later put into production for CBS's 2005-2006 season.
- #007
David Morse also joined the cast of Mayday.
- #008
Filming took place at Toronto Film Studios in Toronto, Ontario, beginning on July 9, 2005 and finishing on August 6, 2005.
- #009
Mayday began principal photography in Montreal on March 4, 2024, working under the title Blackbird.
- #010
The production involved Chautauqua Entertainment and Jerry Leider Co. in collaboration with Paramount Network TV.
- #011
Filming on Mayday wrapped on May 8, 2024.
- #012
Aidan Quinn plays weekend pilot John Berry, while Kelly Hu plays flight attendant Sharon Crandall.
- #013
The last stage of Mayday's filming took place in Budapest.
- #014
Dean Cain plays U.S. Navy Commander James Sloan, who orders the aircraft carrier shot down but whose order is not carried out.
- #015
Charles S. Dutton plays Admiral Randolf Hennings, who commits to revealing the true story of the crash in a Pentagon report.
- #016
Writing for Variety, Brian Lowry criticized the film, saying it felt like a serious update of 'Airplane!'.
- #017
The TMDb record points to another production of the same name with a 2026 release date, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh and directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- Wikipedia Wikipedia (EN)
- TMDB TMDb
- Wikipedia Mayday (2026 film) — Wikipedia
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