At the Variety Lounge at Edinburgh International Film Festival, renowned actor and director Kenneth Branagh shared behind-the-scenes insights into his upcoming Apple TV Cold War action-comedy ‘Mayday,’ which co-stars Ryan Reynolds. Branagh, who plays a former lethal KGB operative, revealed how he approached the physically demanding role and the comedic camaraderie he developed with Reynolds.

Preparation for the Role

To prepare for the physically demanding role, Branagh asked the directors, ‘What’s the way to do it if you’re a man of a certain age and it’s not your natural genre?’ The response was, ‘Get here early.’ Branagh took this advice to heart, making it a point to arrive early on set to learn the advanced choreography and get a feel for the character’s movements. He even asked the stunt team, ‘I’m that scared,’ when they commented on how long he stayed on set to learn the stunts.

‘Mayday’ Plot and Cast

‘Mayday,’ set in the Soviet Union in 1987, follows Reynolds’ character, a crashed U.S. Air Force pilot, as he teams up with Branagh’s former ex-KGB man to escape. Branagh described his character as a ‘Top Gun’-loving exile in the forest of Siberia, highlighting the film’s blend of action and comedy.

Soccer Bond with Ryan Reynolds

While not engaging in high-octane action scenes, Branagh and Reynolds bonded over their shared love of soccer. Branagh, a lifelong supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, was fascinated by Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Wrexham FC. He recalled the initial press conference where the duo expressed their hopes to take the club from non-division football to the Premier League, earning ‘snorts of derision’ but ultimately achieving their goal.

Hamlet’s 30th Anniversary

Branagh was in Edinburgh to receive the festival’s inaugural outstanding contribution to cinema award and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his 1996 adaptation of ‘Hamlet.’ The film, which starred a 20-year-old Kate Winslet, was screened in its full, unbridged four-hour version with an interval. Branagh reminisced about Winslet’s breakout moment, recalling how she walked into the room with a sense of self-possession and maturity beyond her years.

Kate Winslet’s Breakout Moment

Branagh remembered vividly the moment when James Cameron called to inform Winslet that she would star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Titanic.’ He took Winslet aside and advised her to enjoy every moment leading up to the film’s premiere, as her life would change afterward. This advice proved prophetic as ‘Titanic’ went on to become a global phenomenon.

Branagh’s recollection of Winslet’s early days on set and her subsequent rise to fame is a heartwarming testament to the power of mentorship and the impact of a single moment on an individual’s career.