Warner Bros. has officially announced the rescheduled release date for the highly anticipated Animal Friends, an innovative R-rated live-action/animated hybrid featuring the talented Ryan Reynolds. Initially set to premiere in theaters on October 10, the film’s new release date is now May 1, 2026, generating excitement and speculation among fans and industry insiders alike.
While specific plot details regarding Animal Friends remain largely undisclosed, the film is being marketed as an exhilarating R-rated road trip adventure. In addition to Ryan Reynolds, the star-studded cast includes Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Addison Rae, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery, and Ellie Bamber. The screenplay is crafted by the dynamic duo of Kevin Burrows and Matt Midler, who previously collaborated on Netflix’s The Package and Gentlemen Lobsters for Condé Nast. The project is being directed by Peter Atencio, known for his work on the action-comedy Keanu featuring Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, as well as Bert Kreischer’s The Machine.
Interestingly, the new release date of May 1, 2026, is already occupied by Disney’s upcoming film The Devil Wears Prada 2, which promises to compete for audience attention. Previously, this date was reserved for Avengers: Doomsday, which has recently seen its release pushed back by several months, alongside another anticipated film, Avengers: Secret Wars.
Amid the ongoing legal matters involving Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Justin Baldoni, which demand much of his attention, he continues to juggle several film projects. One of these projects is Mayday, an action-adventure film where Reynolds stars alongside Kenneth Branagh. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley—the duo behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves—details surrounding Mayday remain scarce. Nevertheless, production concluded last year, and it is set to be released on the Apple TV+ platform.
Additionally, Reynolds is involved in a comedic venture titled Boy Band, which revolves around former boy band members reuniting during their middle-aged years. This film has the potential to bring together Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Shawn Levy, who previously collaborated to make Deadpool & Wolverine a spectacular success, grossing $1.3 billion. Although Levy is set to direct this film, he is also working on a new project, Star Wars: Starfighter, which will take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and star Ryan Gosling. This exciting addition to the Star Wars universe is slated for release on May 28, 2027. Moreover, Reynolds is reportedly brainstorming ideas for another Deadpool film that may include various X-Men characters, ensuring he remains consistently engaged in the film industry.
