Hollywood is never too far away from Wrexham nowadays, but neither is Wrexham too far away from Hollywood it seems.
Wrexham fans are convinced they've spotted club-record signing Ollie Palmer making a fleeting cameo in co-owner Ryan Reynolds' new Deadpool 3 theatrical trailer released on Monday.
The third instalment of the R-rated dark-comedy superhero franchise, "Deadpool and Wolverine", sees Reynolds' potty-mouthed, red-spandexed hero team up with Hugh Jackman's gruff and grizzled Wolverine to save the world in a highly-anticipated clash of stars.
But while Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were breathlessly picking out the various MCU Easter Eggs left behind by Reynolds and co in the film's trailer, eagle-eyed Wrexham fans came to the conclusion that their £300,000 star striker Ollie Palmer was floating in the background of the new trailer.
Indeed, at the trailer's beginning as Deadpool meets a dejectedly drinking Wolverine in a bar, a tall unknown figure with dark hair and thick beard can be made out in the background. It's a description uncannily similar to the club's hulking No 9.
Lisa Armstrong's fans go crazy over her stunning new hair transformationAnd if the curious resemblance wasn't convincing enough, Palmer commented on Reynolds' Instagram post showcasing the trailer: "If you squint [laughing emoji]" while Reynolds replied "keen eyesight" to a fan who asked if it was him, all but confirming Palmer's (and Wrexham's) five-seconds of Deadpool fame.
Reynolds has rarely rebuffed an opportunity to promote the club he and co-owner Rob McElhenney took over three years ago and have subsequently helped lift across back-to-back promotions to League One.
Almost always, the Deadpool star seems to be spotted wearing a navy baseball cap straight from the club's merchandise store. Other Wrexham vestiges, such as stickers and subtle nods to the clubs, have landed in other films featuring the actor, while both Reynolds and McElhenney featured in hidden commentary lines in FIFA23.
Yet, Reynolds hasn't managed to get screen time for a Wrexham star in one of his big blockbusters -- until now, representing another example of the north Wales club's expansive reach since the unlikely takeover.
Wrexham face league champions Stockport in the final game of the League Two season on Saturday. Both sides have already confirmed promotion to League One, the Red Dragons doing so off of back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's 160-year history.
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