“Mayor Gergely Karácsony is a great admirer of Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptations,” a statement from the Hungarian politician’s office says.

Budapest mayor denies negotiating film shoot with Ryan Reynolds, says he’s more of a Kenneth Branagh man

“Mayor Gergely Karácsony is a great admirer of Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptations,” a statement from the Hungarian politician’s office says.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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on September 11, 2026 6:41 p.m. ET

Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in ‘Mayday’. Credit:

Jan Thijs/Apple TV

- *Mayday *directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein told *THR* that Ryan Reynolds personally called Budapest’s mayor to negotiate shooting in the city.

- A statement from Mayor Gergely Karácsony’s office said that the politician was not involved in the negotiation, but he later met Reynolds on set.

- The statement also notes the mayor’s enthusiasm for one of Reynolds’ costars: “Mayor Gergely Karácsony is a great admirer of Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptations.”

Ryan Reynolds’ new movie filmed a prominent scene in Budapest — but it’s not entirely clear how the production landed in Hungary.

Filmmakers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who directed Reynolds and his costar Kenneth Branagh in their new military action comedy *Mayday*, told *THR* that the *Free Guy* actor personally negotiated the film’s shoot with Mayor Gergely Karácsony after the city withdrew its permission to film in Heroes’ Square, which was set to double as Moscow’s Red Square in a scene involving Soviet tanks.

“It’s like the 500-pound elephant when we need him,” Goldstein said of Reynolds. “Everyone takes his call.”

The *Adam Project *actor seemingly cosigned the story, telling *THR*, “One of the obscene luxuries and disgusting side effects of fame is that you can get people on the phone that you otherwise couldn’t. I can take advantage of that, as long as I’m fighting for the side of good.”

Mayor Gergely Karácsony; Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh.

FERENC ISZA/AFP via Getty; Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV via Getty

However, a statement from Karácsony’s office paints a different picture, claiming that neither the mayor nor Reynolds was directly involved in the negotiations.

“The necessary discussions were not conducted between the film stars and the Mayor, but between members of the Mayor’s Office and representatives of the production company,” the statement says. “We were able to find the right balance and reach the necessary compromises.”

The statement suggests that “memories may have become slightly mixed up at this point” because “the Mayor did not discuss the matter with the stars over the phone,” though he did later connect with Reynolds and Branagh. “He was invited to the set, where he had the opportunity to meet briefly with Mr Reynolds and Mr Branagh,” the statement says. “They talked about Budapest, and the Mayor was delighted to hear how much the two film stars enjoy our city.”

A source close to production clarified the situation to EW, explaining that a producer for the film negotiated the shoot with the mayor’s chief of staff, and Reynolds was present for part of the meeting via FaceTime as the parties discussed permits. “At the end of the day, everything worked out, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot the film in Budapest,” the source said.

** has reached out to representatives for Reynolds, Daley, and Goldstein for comment. EW has also reached out to representatives for the studios behind *Mayday*, Apple and Skydance.

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The statement from Karácsony’s office also suggests that the mayor is a bigger fan of Reynolds’ costar. “For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that Mayor Gergely Karácsony is a great admirer of Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptations,” it says. “Thanks in no small part to the enthusiasm of some of his younger family members, he came to fully appreciate what a privilege it was to have had the opportunity to meet not only Hamlet, but Deadpool himself as well.”

Kenneth Branagh and Ryan Reynolds in ‘Mayday’.

The statement concludes, “The Mayor looks back warmly on their conversation, is eagerly awaiting the Budapest premiere of the completed film, and would be delighted to welcome the actors and the entire crew back to Budapest.”

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The mayor’s statement also emphasizes the importance of clarifying the nature of the production to Budapest’s residents to prevent any potential alarm. “Based on Hungary’s historical experience, it was also important to prepare those travelling through Budapest for the sight of a Russian tank appearing in one of the city centre’s busiest traffic hubs — and to make clear that this was not a sign of some dramatic turn in world politics, but simply part of a film shoot,” the statement says.

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Source: “EW Action”