Relay (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Relay

| image = Relay 2025 film poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = David Mackenzie

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| writer = Justin Piasecki

| based_on =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Tony Doogan

| cinematography = Giles Nuttgens

| editing = Matt Mayer

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Bleecker Street

| released = {{film date|2024|9|8|TIFF|2025|8|22|United States}}

| runtime = 112 minutes{{Cite web |last= |date=June 30, 2025 |title=Relay (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/relay-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdmwnzg3 |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=British Board of Film Classification |language=en}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Relay is a 2024 American thriller film produced and directed by David Mackenzie and written by Justin Piasecki. It stars Lily James, Riz Ahmed and Sam Worthington.

It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, and it is scheduled to be released theatrically on August 22, 2025.

Synopsis

Tom (Ahmed) is a secretive "fixer" who brokers payoffs on behalf of corrupt corporations. Sarah (James) is a potential client who may need his protection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/riz-ahmed-lily-james-relay-movie|title=Riz Ahmed and Lily James to Star in Thriller 'Relay' for Black Bear, Thunder Road and Sigma|website=The Wrap|date=February 17, 2023 }}

Cast

Riz Ahmed as Tom / Ash
Lily James as Sarah Grant
Sam Worthington
Willa Fitzgerald{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/david-mackenzie-relay-riz-ahmed-lily-james-interview-1235043601/|title=David Mackenzie Doesn't Make the Same Film Twice — Nothing Could Thrill His 'Relay' Stars Riz Ahmed and Lily James More|website=IndieWire|first=Kate|last=Erbland|date=September 7, 2024|access-date=September 7, 2024}} as Rosetti
Matthew Maher as Hoffman
Victor Garber

Production

Justin Piasecki's screenplay, originally titled The Broker, was featured on the 2019 "Black List" of most-liked unproduced screenplays.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/black-list-2019-scripts-rankings-full-list-1202810439/|title=The Black List 2019 Screenplays Unveiled & Ranked: Ken Kobayashi's Frozen-Time Romance 'Move On' Tops List|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Ramos|first2=Dino-Ray|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 16, 2019|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/range-media-partners-screenwriter-justin-piasecki-1235802128/|title=Range Media Partners Signs 'Relay' Screenwriter Justin Piasecki (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Jackson|first=Angelique|work=Variety|date=November 22, 2023|access-date=January 27, 2025}} It is directed by David Mackenzie. The film is produced by Mackenzie, Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk, Sigma Films' Gillian Berrie and Black Bear Pictures' Teddy Schwarzman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a42964853/riz-ahmed-lily-james-relay|website=Digital Spy|access-date=April 12, 2023|first=Joe|last=Anderton|title=Star Wars' Riz Ahmed and Downton Abbey's Lily James join thriller movie|date=February 18, 2023}}

=Casting=

In February 2023, Riz Ahmed and Lily James were cast in the film.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/riz-ahmed-lily-james-john-wick-movie-relay-black-bear-thunder-road-efm-1235263255|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218015917/https://deadline.com/2023/02/riz-ahmed-lily-james-john-wick-movie-relay-black-bear-thunder-road-efm-1235263255/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2023|title=Riz Ahmed & Lily James To Star In David Mackenzie Thriller 'Relay' For Thunder Road, Sigma & Black Bear: EFM Hot Package| first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=February 17, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 12, 2023}} In April 2023, Sam Worthington was confirmed as a member of the cast, and was pictured on set in New York.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/star-tracks-wednesday-april-19-2023|title=Melissa McCarthy & Paapa Essiedu on Set in N.Y.C., Plus Lucy Boynton, Priyanka Chopra and More|date=April 19, 2023|accessdate=April 19, 2023|website=People}}{{Cite web|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=April 24, 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/sam-worthington-riz-ahmed-lily-james-relay-movie-filming-new-york-1235334875

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424153329/https://deadline.com/2023/04/sam-worthington-riz-ahmed-lily-james-relay-movie-filming-new-york-1235334875/

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=April 24, 2023

|title=Sam Worthington Joins Riz Ahmed & Lily James In Thriller 'Relay'; Filming Underway In New York & New Jersey|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=April 24, 2023}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began in New York City in April 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/news-in-pictures-friday-april-14-2023-8vwn2nj62|website=The Times|date=April 14, 2023|title=The Day in Pictures April 14, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023}} Filming locations were also set to include Jersey City, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/lily-james-riz-ahmed-cast-relay-movie/|title= Riz Ahmed & Lily James to Lead Thriller From 'Hell or High Water' Director|website=Collider|first=Justin|last=Klawans|date=February 17, 2023|access-date=April 12, 2023}}[https://productionlist.com/production/relay/ Relay Start Date Production Listing]

Release

Relay had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024. In November 2024, Bleecker Street acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/riz-ahmed-thriller-relay-acquired-bleecker-street-2025-1236180311/|title=Bleecker Street Acquires David Mackenzie's Thriller 'Relay' Starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James and Sam Worthington|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=November 18, 2024}} It is set to be released on August 22, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/bleecker-acquires-horror-the-third-parent-starring-rob-lowe-crispin-glover-roselyn-sanchez/5202638.article|title=Bleecker Street acquires horror 'The Third Parent' starring Rob Lowe, Crispin Glover, Roselyn Sanchez|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|work=Screen Daily|date=March 4, 2025|access-date=March 5, 2025}} It was previously set to be released in the second quarter of 2025.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessadndro |first=Anthony |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Bleecker Street Sets 2025 Slate With Sundance Title 'The Wedding Banquet', 'The Friend', 'Hard Truths' & More |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/bleecker-street-2025-theatrical-release-slate-1236207859/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}