Wrexham’s Journey: From Documentary to Championship Aspirations

In 2021, when Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired Wrexham, they envisioned a significant enhancement of the club’s profile. A key part of this strategy was creating a behind-the-scenes documentary, which led to the inception of ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’

The series has just concluded its fourth season, capturing their ascent from the National League to the Championship in a remarkably short period. As they pursue the prestigious goal of reaching the Premier League, a fifth season is already in development, building on the show’s accolades, which include eight Emmy Awards and two Critics’ Choice TV Awards. However, the documentary has not been without its detractors. Notably, an unnamed Wrexham player reached out to Reynolds during the night, urgently requesting the removal of a particular scene from the series.

The Canadian actor refrained from disclosing the player’s identity but noted that the individual was quite distressed and implored him to edit a part of an episode. At the time, Reynolds was busy with the filming of ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Wolverine’ but ultimately found that his initial belief that such edits were impossible was incorrect. “I remember there was an issue on ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ where a player had some kind of issue. He was freaking out because there was something in the opening credits that would upend his life in some way,” Reynolds recounted during The Wall Street Journal’s CMO Council Summit. “I explained that you can’t just pull something off streaming, edit it, and put it back up. But he was insistent, and after some deliberation, I realized I could indeed make the necessary changes.”

For those unfamiliar with the series, casual viewers might perceive it as a lighthearted venture due to the comedic backgrounds of Reynolds and McElhenney. However, both emphasize that the show delves deeply into the town of Wrexham and the lives intertwined with the football club.

Reynolds articulated this sentiment: “If you’re just reading the headlines, you might assume the show is comedic in nature, a story about two showbiz figures navigating their way through a new environment. But it fundamentally centers on the town itself. The beauty of a docuseries is the opportunity to listen and allow the narrative to unfold organically. We were fortunate in this regard, as even those who may not support us find it hard not to root for the town.”

McElhenney added, “After the premiere of the first episode, I was relieved to hear from several viewers who appreciated that we aimed not to create exploitative content but rather to celebrate the community.”

Having secured three consecutive promotions in as many years, Wrexham is now competing in the Championship under head coach Phil Parkinson. Following a successful run through League Two and League One, the English second tier presents new challenges for Parkinson’s squad. Currently sitting 15th in the division, they are just four points shy of the playoff positions. Wrexham has made significant investments this summer in hopes of contending for promotion, but the outcome of their efforts remains uncertain.