Explained: How Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney & ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ played a part in Anchorman actor Will Ferrell buying a stake in Leeds United

The Hollywood superstar, who has featured in movies such as Anchorman and Elf, is said to have joined forces with 49ers Enterprises at Elland Road. He is already involved with MLS side LAFC, but is now becoming the latest famous face to join a board in the United Kingdom.

Ferrell spent time in Britain last year, as he took in a game at Wrexham courtesy of close friend Reynolds. He featured in the Red Dragons’ award-winning documentary and was shown around SToK Racecourse by club director Shaun Harvey.

According to The Sun, it is during those discussions that the subject of Leeds may have been raised. Harvey worked as as the Whites’ CEO between 2004 and 2013 and is considered to have talked up the potential of investing in a “sleeping giant”.

A source is reported as saying: “Shaun was at Leeds for nearly a decade and knows the club inside-out. He features heavily in the Wrexham documentary and has been credited for leading their charge up the football ladder. Leeds’ ex-chief executive was the one showing Ferrell around and his former club would have been a hot topic of conversation between the pair.”

Ferrell will be hoping to enjoy an early cause for celebration with Leeds, as they take aim at promotion back into the Premier League through the Championship play-offs. He is not the only Hollywood star with a vested interest in those fixtures, with Gladiator actor Russell Crowe a big Leeds fan who came close to acquiring the club himself not all that long ago.