The first trailer for Mayday quickly establishes the kind of film it wants to be. It is not presented as a straightforward Cold War thriller. Instead, it places Ryan Reynolds’ trademark humour in Soviet territory and pairs him with Kenneth Branagh as a former KGB agent who unexpectedly becomes his closest ally. It is an unusual pairing that creates immediate interest.

The story follows US Navy pilot Troy “Assassin” Kelly, played by Reynolds, after a mission goes disastrously wrong in 1987. Stranded behind enemy lines, he expects imprisonment or death. What he gets instead is Nikolai Ustinov, Branagh’s former Soviet operative whose fascination with American culture turns the expected rescue mission into an unlikely partnership. The trailer hints at military pursuits, narrow escapes and a series of sarcastic exchanges.

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Mayday treats the Cold War as more than a serious political backdrop. Rather than focusing entirely on espionage and international tension, the trailer centres on character-driven humour. Nikolai’s enthusiasm for American pop culture provides many of the laughs, while Reynolds spends much of the trailer reacting to the increasingly unusual situations around him. Instead of competing for the funniest line, the two actors play off each other’s contrasting personalities, giving the trailer some of its strongest moments.

Branagh delivers an unexpected performance. Best known for his dramatic work both in front of and behind the camera, he takes on a broader comedic role without losing the authority that makes his character believable. His calm delivery contrasts with Reynolds’ familiar exasperation, creating a partnership that feels natural.

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The trailer features large-scale action sequences, including fighter jets, forest chases, military convoys and explosions, indicating a high-budget production. The action appears balanced with the comedy, allowing the humour to remain part of the story rather than interrupting it.

Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are known for combining action and comedy. The trailer alternates between suspense and humour without relying on constant jokes, suggesting a balance between the two elements.

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Ryan Reynolds is well known for his established comic style, and audiences have seen variations of it in several recent films. Mayday will need more than familiar one-liners to stand apart from similar action comedies. Branagh’s performance and the Cold War setting add enough variety to make the trailer feel distinctive.

The film also avoids treating its historical setting as little more than a joke. Instead, it uses the political tension of the period to build an unlikely partnership and generate much of its humour. That approach helps set Mayday apart from many spy comedies that rely mainly on parody.

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Based on the trailer, Mayday presents an unusual mix of action and comedy. Reynolds and Branagh appear to have convincing on-screen chemistry, while the combination of large-scale action and an unconventional Cold War story gives the film a distinctive identity. The full feature will determine whether it can maintain that balance, but the trailer introduces its central partnership effectively and leaves viewers wanting to see where the story goes next.

The first trailer for I Play Rocky has arrived, giving audiences their first look at Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone. The biographical drama tells the story behind the making of Rocky, focusing on the challenges Stallone faced before the film became a global hit. Directed by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly, the film is set for a theatrical release later this year through Amazon MGM Studios.

Instead of retelling the plot of Rocky, the film focuses on the years before the boxing drama reached cinemas. At the centre of the story is Stallone’s determination to keep control of the screenplay he wrote while insisting on playing the lead role himself. Despite financial struggles and repeated rejection from studios that wanted a more established actor, Stallone refused to sell the script unless he was cast as Rocky Balboa. That decision launched his career.

Credit: Claire Folger/Amazon MGM Studios

One of the trailer’s most noticeable moments is Ippolito’s transformation into the young Stallone. His appearance, voice and mannerisms closely mirror the actor during the mid-1970s. The footage suggests Ippolito studied Stallone’s speech and body language to create a convincing portrayal. Entertainment publications have noted how closely he resembles Stallone in the role.

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The film also recreates the people who helped shape the original Rocky. AnnaSophia Robb stars as Stallone’s first wife, Sasha Czack, while Stephan James takes on the role of Carl Weathers, the actor who played Apollo Creed. Matt Dillon appears as Frank Stallone Sr., with Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell rounding out the supporting cast.

The film offers a closer look at the story behind Rocky. Before the film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and launched a long-running franchise, Stallone was an unknown actor trying to convince Hollywood to take a chance on him. The trailer highlights those early setbacks, including the negotiations and obstacles he faced before securing his breakthrough.

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The project also marks another significant role for Ippolito. The actor previously portrayed a young Al Pacino in The Offer, and I Play Rocky marks his first leading role in a major studio film.

With Peter Farrelly directing, I Play Rocky tells the story behind one of cinema’s most influential sports dramas and the determination that brought it to the screen.

After years of keeping their relationship largely out of the spotlight, Zendaya and Tom Holland appeared together publicly when they stepped onto the red carpet in Madrid for the Spider-Man: Brand New Day photocall.

The appearance marked their first major red carpet event as a couple in several years and generated significant media coverage.

Photo – Instagram

The pair arrived at the event in coordinated outfits that appeared to pay tribute to the superhero franchise that brought them together. Holland wore a black suit paired with a red shirt, while Zendaya opted for a black Christian Cowan dress featuring a high slit and fringe detailing. Observers pointed to the red-and-black combination as a subtle reference to Spider-Man.

During the photocall, Holland was seen placing an arm around Zendaya as they posed for photographers, while the two shared smiles and exchanged a few words between shots. The photographs reflected the couple’s relaxed approach to the event as they posed together in front of the cameras.

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The appearance carried added significance because the couple have largely avoided walking red carpets together in recent years. Holland previously explained that he often chooses not to join Zendaya on red carpets because he wants the focus to remain on her work rather than their relationship. Their decision to appear side by side in Madrid therefore marked a change from their usual approach to public appearances.

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Their return to the red carpet also comes amid ongoing speculation about their relationship status. Rumours of a possible marriage have circulated for months, fuelled by reports earlier this year and renewed discussion after Zendaya was seen wearing a simple gold band during the event. Neither actor addressed the speculation.

The Madrid photocall marked the start of a promotional campaign for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with both stars expected to take part in further publicity events ahead of the film’s release. For a couple who have generally kept their relationship private, the appearance offered a rare opportunity for fans to see them together at a major public event.