Ryan Reynolds saves Mayday film scene via call to Budapest mayor

Actor Ryan Reynolds used his personal influence to prevent the cancellation of a major scene for his upcoming film, “Mayday”. The production had planned an elaborate parade sequence at Budapest's Heroes' Square, intended to serve as a double for Moscow's Red Square.

The ambitious scene was set to involve 1,000 extras, 1,000 crew members, a dozen Soviet tanks, and a custom-built nuclear launch vehicle. When permission for the shoot was unexpectedly withdrawn, Reynolds contacted the mayor of Budapest directly to advocate for the production.

Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein confirmed the call was successful, noting that the decision was reversed, allowing filming to proceed as planned. Reynolds described the ability to reach high-level officials as one of the “obscene luxuries and disgusting side effects of fame,” adding that he is happy to use such access as long as he is “fighting for the side of good.”