Ryan Reynolds on the acquisition of Wrexham Football Club with Rob McElhenny: “I wouldn’t dare call it football. I care a lot about my safety’ | Ents & Arts News

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Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds told Sky News his takeover of non-league soccer club Wrexham was the ‘turn of a lifetime’ – and he reassured British fans with a word he certainly wouldn’t use when it came to his new team.

“I wouldn’t dare call it football,” he says. “I care about my safety enough to not call it football.”

Phew. Reynolds is off to a good start to the new season.

The Deadpool actor talks on Zoom ahead of the release of his latest movie, Free Guy, which tells the story of Guy, a bank worker who lives a Groundhog Day-style life until he discovers he’s actually nothing more than a background character in a violent, open-world video game. It looks set to be a great summer movie, and fans in Wrexham are set to receive a special preview on Tuesday night.

Reynolds and friend Rob McElhenny, creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, acquired 100% control of the Welsh club, known as the Red Dragons, from the Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) in February after fans approved the offer, investing £2 million as part of the deal. .

On social media the day the acquisition was announced, the Canadian actor posted a picture of him in a club hoodie bearing his initials. “And we go away…” read the caption on Instagram, followed by the hashtag #UpTheTown. He wrote on Twitter: “Can’t get to the racetrack fast enough. Keep playing.”

Both stars want to raise the profile of not only the club but the region as well, Reynolds told Sky News, and show their appreciation to the fans; Hence the sampling was examined in the town of North Wales.

“Well, first, [I’m] Reynolds says he’s so excited, “I mean, we haven’t hidden it, it’s the turn of a lifetime for me and Rob McElhenney.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic means they have not been able to visit the club this year, the plan is to spend some time at the team’s stadium, the racetrack, when they finally can.

“I think the first thing we’ll do is we’ll go to the racetrack and spend some time on the ground and kind of try to absorb as much of the legacy of the club and Wrexham as possible,” says Reynolds. “And then we’ll move into the community as much as we can. You know, I’m excited to be in the city and experience all that the city has to offer.

Photo: Reynolds is currently starring as The Man in Free Man. Pic: Alan Markfield/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Photo: The star has invested in Wrexham alongside Rob McElhenney. Pic: Dave Starbuck/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

“There is such a rich history in Wrexham and there is a legacy of incredible adoration and love for this club and we kind of feel that the community and the club are really intertwined. We are excited to raise the profile of both.”

Wrexham plays its first game of the 2021-22 season at home against Yeovil Town on Saturday 21 August.

Both Reynolds and McElhenney are set to appear in an all-access documentary series around the club, called Welcome To Wrexham, following the highs and lows of the first two seasons.

When it comes to his football (not football) skills, Reynolds, 44, says he’s not bad – but it doesn’t look like he’s going to be showing off his players anytime soon.

“My football skills are good,” he says. “I mean, I played, I don’t know, 10 years as a kid. I don’t pretend to be anywhere near the level of players at the club or even just your average, every day, you know, being in Wales.

“I wouldn’t put my skills up against anyone, but I love it. Yes, I definitely love it. I’m excited to see the club go.”

Free Guy, starring Ryan Reynolds, opens in cinemas on Friday, August 13th. Find more about the movie and our interview with the star on the Sky News website and app later this week.

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