Relay (film)

2024 thriller film

Relay

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| David Mackenzie
Written by| Justin Piasecki
Produced by|

* Gillian Berrie
* Basil Iwanyk
* David Mackenzie
* Teddy Schwarzman

Starring|

* Riz Ahmed
* Lily James
* Sam Worthington

Cinematography| Giles Nuttgens
Edited by| Matt Mayer
Music by| Tony Doogan

Production
companies

* Black Bear Pictures
* Thunder Road Films
* Sigma Films

Distributed by| Bleecker Street

Release dates

* September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08) (TIFF)
* August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22) (United States)

Running time

| 112 minutes[1]
Country| United States
Language| English

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

[edit]

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.[2]

## Cast

[edit]

* Riz Ahmed as Tom / Ash
* Lily James as Sarah Grant
* Sam Worthington as Dawson
* Willa Fitzgerald[3] as Rosetti
* Matthew Maher as Hoffman
* Victor Garber as McVie
* Eisa Davis as Wash
* Jared Abrahamson as Ryan

## Production

[edit]

Justin Piasecki's screenplay, originally titled The Broker, was featured on the 2019 "Black List" of most-liked unproduced screenplays.[4][5] 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.[6]

### Casting

[edit]

In February 2023, Riz Ahmed and Lily James were cast in the film.[7] In April 2023, Sam Worthington was confirmed as a member of the cast, and was pictured on set in New York.[8][9]

### Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in New York City in April 2023.[10] Filming locations were also set to include Jersey City, New Jersey.[11][12]

## Release

[edit]

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.[13] It is set to be released on August 22, 2025.[14] It was previously set to be released in the second quarter of 2025.[15]

## Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 28 critics' reviews are positive.[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Relay (15)". British Board of Film Classification. June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
2. ^ "Riz Ahmed and Lily James to Star in Thriller 'Relay' for Black Bear, Thunder Road and Sigma". The Wrap. February 17, 2023.
3. ^ Erbland, Kate (September 7, 2024). "David Mackenzie Doesn't Make the Same Film Twice — Nothing Could Thrill His 'Relay' Stars Riz Ahmed and Lily James More". IndieWire. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
4. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 16, 2019). "The Black List 2019 Screenplays Unveiled & Ranked: Ken Kobayashi's Frozen-Time Romance 'Move On' Tops List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
5. ^ Jackson, Angelique (November 22, 2023). "Range Media Partners Signs 'Relay' Screenwriter Justin Piasecki (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
6. ^ Anderton, Joe (February 18, 2023). "Star Wars' Riz Ahmed and Downton Abbey's Lily James join thriller movie". Digital Spy. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 17, 2023). "Riz Ahmed & Lily James To Star In David Mackenzie Thriller 'Relay' For Thunder Road, Sigma & Black Bear: EFM Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
8. ^ "Melissa McCarthy & Paapa Essiedu on Set in N.Y.C., Plus Lucy Boynton, Priyanka Chopra and More". People. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
9. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 24, 2023). "Sam Worthington Joins Riz Ahmed & Lily James In Thriller 'Relay'; Filming Underway In New York & New Jersey". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
10. ^ "The Day in Pictures April 14, 2023". The Times. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
11. ^ Klawans, Justin (February 17, 2023). "Riz Ahmed & Lily James to Lead Thriller From 'Hell or High Water' Director". Collider. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
12. ^ Relay Start Date Production Listing
13. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 18, 2024). "Bleecker Street Acquires David Mackenzie's Thriller 'Relay' Starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James and Sam Worthington". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
14. ^ Kay, Jeremy (March 4, 2025). "Bleecker Street acquires horror 'The Third Parent' starring Rob Lowe, Crispin Glover, Roselyn Sanchez". Screen Daily. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
15. ^ D'Alessadndro, Anthony (December 17, 2024). "Bleecker Street Sets 2025 Slate With Sundance Title 'The Wedding Banquet', 'The Friend', 'Hard Truths' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
16. ^ "Relay". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
17. ^ "Relay". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Relay at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by David Mackenzie

* The Last Great Wilderness (2002)
* Young Adam (2003)
* Asylum (2005)
* Hallam Foe (2007)
* Spread (2009)
* Perfect Sense (2011)
* You Instead (2011)
* Starred Up (2013)
* Hell or High Water (2016)
* Outlaw King (2018)
* Relay (2024)
* Fuze (TBA)

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