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đŸŽ„ Relay (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date & Everything You Need to Know About the High-Stakes Thriller Starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James

  • Writer: Boxofficehype
    Boxofficehype
  • Jul 3
  • 2 min read
đŸŽ„ Relay (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date & Everything You Need to Know About the High-Stakes Thriller Starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James

đŸŽ„ ‘Relay’ (2025): A Slick, High-Stakes Thriller Led by Riz Ahmed and Lily James

In theaters August 22 from Bleecker Street


From acclaimed director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Outlaw King) comes Relay, a tightly wound, morally complex thriller that dives deep into the murky world of corporate corruption, deception, and survival. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, Relay finally makes its theatrical debut on August 22, 2025—and it’s one of the year’s most anticipated slow-burns.


🧹 The Premise: Fixers, Secrets, and Survival


Tom (Riz Ahmed) is no ordinary middleman. He’s a professional “fixer”—a covert go-between who arranges payoffs for powerful, corrupt clients looking to erase their tracks. Cold, calculating, and methodical, Tom has mastered the art of disappearing into shadows.


But when Sarah Grant (Lily James), a seemingly vulnerable woman, reaches out with a job that could expose a dangerous global conspiracy, Tom’s carefully ordered world begins to spiral. What starts as a routine negotiation soon unravels into a twisted game of trust, power, and betrayal, pushing both Tom and Sarah into deadly territory, where no one is what they seem and everyone has something to lose.


🎭 A Cast That Delivers Tension and Humanity


  • Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal, Nightcrawler) delivers a riveting performance as Tom, imbuing the morally ambiguous character with a quiet intensity and emotional complexity.

  • Lily James (Pam & Tommy, Rebecca) plays against type as Sarah, a woman torn between desperation and cunning, whose motivations keep the audience guessing.

  • Sam Worthington, Willa Fitzgerald, Matthew Maher, and Victor Garber round out the ensemble, bringing further weight to this gritty, character-driven thriller.


🎬 Behind the Scenes: David Mackenzie Returns to the Dark Side


Director David Mackenzie is no stranger to morally grey territory, and in Relay, he crafts a taut narrative with haunting cinematography by longtime collaborator Giles Nuttgens and a moody, synth-laced score by Tony Doogan. The script, penned by Justin Piasecki, unfolds like a ticking clock—each scene layering new tension until everything threatens to explode.


đŸ•”ïžâ€â™‚ïž What Makes Relay Different?


Unlike high-octane thrillers that prioritize spectacle, Relay trades gunfights for glances, and car chases for whispered threats. It’s a corporate espionage noir set in sleek glass towers and hidden safe houses—where the real weapons are data, money, and information.


Think Michael Clayton meets Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy—but with Mackenzie’s signature edge and 21st-century paranoia.


📅 Mark Your Calendar


🎞 Title: Relay

🎬 Director: David Mackenzie

🗓 Release Date: August 22, 2025 (Theatrical – U.S.)

🏆 Festival Debut: TIFF 2024

⏱ Runtime: 112 minutes

🌐 Distributed by: Bleecker Street


📌 Final Thoughts


In an era where privacy is an illusion and loyalty is currency, Relay asks: how far would you go to protect the truth—or bury it?

With Riz Ahmed and Lily James delivering career-high performances, Relay is poised to be one of the year’s smartest and most stylish thrillers. Don’t miss this gripping tale of manipulation, morality, and the high price of control when it hits theaters this August.


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