- Hugh Jackman’s Norfolk roots could spark a blockbuster rivalry with Wrexham.
- From Matt Smith to Jordan Peele, star-investors bring massive global power.
- Celebrity owners provide essential bait for attracting major future investment.
If there’s one narrative that has caught the imagination beyond football it has been the story of Wrexham. Whatever your thoughts are on the Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney project you have to admit they have played a blinder in terms of marketing.
This got me thinking – would Norwich City benefit from going all Hollywood?
Hugh Jackman
To get the obvious out of the way Wolverine and PT Barnum whitewasher Hugh Jackman would be a major candidate.
As well as having family roots in Norfolk he has in the past expressed regret about not investing in Norwich City in the past.
On top of the star-power this would bring there is also the chance to build on the delightful (your mileage may vary on this) banter he has with Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds.
Other candidates…
Believe it or not there are other potential candidates that could be enticed into the Norwich City fold.
Former eleventh Doctor and Morbius legend Matt Smith was a drama student at UEA and had aspirations to play football before injury cut his ambitions short.
I had a cup of tea with him in my friend Dan’s dorm room once. He was nice!
Robert De Niro was in Stardust (partially filmed in Norwich), Robert Downey Jr might be persuaded (Avengers Age of Ultron did some filming at the Sainsbury Centre) while Sophie Ellis-Bextor is recently enjoying a career resurgence (rumour was she had a particular brand of Norwich City merchandise).
Comedy legend
Saving the unlikeliest potential Norwich City investor for last I vote for Keegan Michael-Key.
Keegan-Michael Key was part of the John Legend produced Christmas film Jingle Jangle. In that film a crucial sequence takes place on Elm Hill.
Keegan-Michael Key would probably enjoy it here given improv troupes like Dogface Improv and Intellectual Hooligans have regular gigs.
Could we persuade him to rope in John Legend and sketch partner turned director Jordan Peele?
Worth a go!
Why do this?
While this is partially a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon like fantasy exercise it is also worth exploring why Tom Brady is a minor investor in Birmingham or Snoop Dog is a co-owner at Swansea.
From an investor point of view it makes sense- having a big name can be bait on the hook for potential outside investment and sales later down the line, even if said big name is a tiny minority shareholder.
This can be seen as an extension of American owners taking over any number of clubs. They have seen what Ryan Reynolds has achieved with Wrexham and want a piece of that pie.
Maximum effort
The difference that I think people overlook is that Ryan Reynolds is brilliant at marketing. His promotions with the likes of Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile and the Deadpool franchise have shown terrific savvy alongside his snark and quipping.
That being said it would not surprise me if Attanasio is looking at Norwich City and thinking “So we have Gary Busey’s phone number?”
