Ryan Reynolds tells Abu Dhabi the moving Wrexham story at LIVEX 2026: 'That's your son'

During his visit to Wrexham, actor Ryan Reynolds recounted the story of how his documentary crew found inspiration in the Welsh town. Initially, the crew doubted Wrexham's potential for storytelling. However, a vicar and an exorcism helped shift their perspective. Reynolds shared how the vicar, who ran the town's church, disappeared to perform an exorcism on a child, which sparked the crew's curiosity about the town's hidden stories.

This moment proved pivotal in changing their mindset. Now, locals approach the team with their own stories. A particularly impactful tale involved a boy who attended every Wrexham match with his father. Tragically, the boy died in an accident, and his heart was donated to a man in need of a transplant. The recipient later invited the father to a Wrexham game, where the team won in the final minute.

The man expressed his gratitude by telling the father that he had the boy's heart in his own. Reynolds emphasized the importance of storytelling and how the team's approach involves listening and allowing stories to grow organically. This approach has helped transform Wrexham, a town that once struggled with its declining coal and steel industries, into a place with a contagious pride.

Reynolds highlighted the club's rise as a result of trying, failing, learning, and growing. The next focus for the club is its local university, as graduates tend to stay due to the low cost of living, bringing art and culture with them. Brûlé, the editor and chairman of Monocle, questioned whether Reynolds expected any of these developments.

Reynolds replied that he was not being disingenuous when he said he didn't foresee these outcomes. He attributed the town's success to listening and letting things grow naturally. Brûlé also noted that cities with unique features, like odd staircases and imperfect streets, have room for surprises and should preserve their authenticity.

Finally, Reynolds joked that he would prefer to stay married, to which Brûlé playfully reminded him that leaders are often asked why they chose their jobs. Reynolds admitted he often asks them about their motivations, praising Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, for his service-oriented approach.