Ryan Reynolds reveals two mega celebrities interested in Wrexham including £470m pop icon

Wrexham have attracted attention from all over the world since their Hollywood takeover, with co-owner Ryan Reynolds highlighting two huge stars who have shown a keen interest

Ryan Reynolds has revealed that two celebrity megastars are taking a keen interest in Wrexham’s unprecedented success. The Red Dragons recently registered an historic third successive promotion and will play in the Championship next season.

Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney have welcomed a whole host of celebrity visitors to the Racecourse Ground in the last few years, including fellow actors Will Ferrell, Hugh Jackman and Eva Longoria. Channing Tatum, Paul Rudd and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong have also dropped by in North Wales.

Deadpool star Reynolds has now revealed how pop icon Elton John, who is worth an estimated £470million, and Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh have both expressed their admiration for the club’s achievements.

He said he received a call from Sir Elton in the aftermath of Wrexham’s famous 3-2 win over Notts County in April 2023. Former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster made a crucial last-minute penalty save, which helped his team win the National League title.

Speaking on the RobRyanRed fan podcast, Reynolds said: “The biggest surprise phone call I ever got was from Elton John after the Ben Foster save against Notts County.

“I don’t pick up numbers I don’t recognise, but I must have had some sense that this means something because it was also a certain area code. Sir Elton was very into the Wrexham experience.

“Kenneth Branagh is another guy I worked with on a film last year who I would love hearing his analysis because he knew so much more than I did.”

McElhenney then interjected by sharing his own encounter with Branagh. “I’d never met him before and we were at some award show when he made a beeline for me,” he said.

“I got out of the way, assuming he was walking towards somebody behind me and he cornered me and walked me through the table and where we stood and, and what our chances were. It’s amazing to hear who’s into it.”

Wrexham’s success in recent seasons has been aided by the global attention brought to the club by the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries. The popularity of the show has also inspired other teams to tell their stories, but McElhenney insists they can’t take credit for the original idea.

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator famously decided to buy a football club after watching Sunderland ‘Til I Die. “It’s so funny to hear people now say, ‘Oh, can you see all the people that are imitating you guys by making documentaries about sports?” he said.

“I’m like, what are you talking about? We’re stealing everything we can. I mean, that is what art is. [You’re] standing on the shoulders of the people that have come before you and pick and choose what you think will work and then push it through your own point of view.”

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