From Hollywood hero to forgotten outcast: How Paul Mullin's Wrexham fairy tale with Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney unravelled

Stumping up the money to acquire Mullin was arguably one of the most important 'canon events' of the modern Wrexham timeline. After firing Cambridge United to promotion into League One, scoring 32 goals in 46 appearances in 2020-21, he was offered a new contract to stay at Abbey Stadium. However, the Red Dragons, under the relatively new ownership of Reynolds and McElhenney, wanted to flex their ambition as they sought to get out of non-league and into the professional game.

Addressing Mullin's departure this week, McElhenney revealed a text exchange with executive director Humphrey Ker asking about rumours linking the club to the striker back in 2021. "Who's this guy?" the actor wrote. "And are we able to get players of this calibre?"

Three weeks later, Mullin was a Wrexham player, and he admitted that McElhenney did extremely well to sell him the project and make him feel better about dropping down a division: "Rob McElhenney gave me a call a couple of nights ago - at that time, I wasn't too sure about making the move. But once he outlined the plans for the club, and the plans for me in the future, it was something I really wanted to be a part of and something that just excited me that much that I had to come. He really sold the club to me. What they have planned for the club is magnificent and something I want to be a part of."

The Wrexham revolution truly began in 2021-22, which saw Mullin score on his debut with a 2-2 draw against Solihull Moors. That was the first in a run of seven goals across his first 10 appearances, breaking the club's record since returning to non-league in 2008 for most strikes in such a timespan.

Everything about Mullin, for better or worse, felt like he was the main character in this story. When Reynolds and McElhenney were finally able to attend their first Wrexham game, a 3-2 defeat at Maidenhead United, Mullin scored after escaping a red card in a rare case of mistaken identity. When they were 5-2 down at Dover a few months later, he popped up with the final goal in a remarkable 6-5 victory. When Stockport County were the opponents in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, he bagged a stoppage-time brace of lobs to send the Red Dragons to the final.

Mullin ended his first campaign with Wrexham as the National League's Golden Boot winner and Player of the Season, but the team fell short as losing finalists in both the play-offs and FA Trophy. They would, however, be back with a vengeance.

Wrexham were pushed to the brink the following campaign by an extremely dogged and determined Notts County in their successful fight for the only automatic promotion spot to League Two, which season two of FX's 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary made all the more compelling. Mullin's exploits, scoring a staggering 47 goals across all competitions, along with the club's newfound fame all over the globe made him arguably sport's most famous superstar not playing league football.

Though there was a small slice of Hollywood in North Wales, it was beginning to penetrate the English game and change football. When Wrexham drew 3-3 with Championship side Sheffield United in round four of the FA Cup, it was one of the most watched matches in the United States, with the encounter streamed on ESPN. Mullin, of course, was on the scoresheet, and would receive the competition's Golden Boot for tallying nine at the final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

Though that cup run was eventually ended by the Blades in a replay, Wrexham went on to secure the National League title with a record points haul of 111.

Wrexham's pull managed to convince Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United into playing friendlies during their respective tours of the U.S. in 2023, and it was against the Red Devils where Mullin had to battle back from adversity for the first time for the club, suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung after colliding with goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. The injury was so severe that he had to remain Stateside while the rest of the squad returned home to allow it ample time to heal.

"I was trying to breathe in but nothing was happening," Mullin said in the aftermath of the incident. "I couldn't get air into my lungs. That's when I knew it was bad. In that struggle for breath, with my lips turning blue, I accepted that this could be it for me. That's how it felt. I couldn't breathe properly for a few minutes. I was thinking about my little boy, Albi. I hate being away from him and my partner Mollie for too long, but I had told myself it was only two weeks and that I'd be back home soon. It ended up being much longer, but I'm so thankful it wasn't worse."

Reynolds and McElhenney's undying love for Mullin saw them go the extra mile for the striker, helping him in his hour of need. He further revealed: "Ryan offered to fly my entire family out and Rob said I could stay with him in his Los Angeles home. I'm sure he has the room, but I was happy to stay out of the way. So they sorted an apartment for us instead. Rob visited me there before heading to Wales for our opening game of the season against MK Dons. I would have loved to be getting on that plane with him, but I had to stay there and rest. I haven't been able to walk for too long and every time I move it hurts."

Mullin sat out the rest of pre-season before making his return from the bench in September, but it took him a while to get back up to speed, scoring in only four League Two matches before the end of the calendar year. Wrexham went into 2024 sitting just outside the top three, which would secure automatic promotion for a second season running, and Mullin had yet to hit full stride by his own high standards. A slump in form saw him go seven games without a goal from January to the end of February, but when it mattered most, he stepped up.

With 14 goals across the final 13 games of the season, Wrexham raced into second place and were promoted to League One, Mullin their hero once more. He was about to add a 'super' prefix to that description, too.

Reynolds is one of the world's most famous A-listers, a hit in Hollywood even if the films he stars in aren't always critically acclaimed. Did it matter that the reviews for the summer 2024 Marvel movie 'Deadpool & Wolverine' weren't universally positive? Not really, as it made over $1.3 billion at the box office nonetheless.

Eagle-eyed viewers would have noticed that during one of the film's scenes in the third act, a Deadpool variant is seen donning a flag of Wales across their breastplate. At first, it seemed like only a minor nod to Reynolds' involvement with Wrexham, but he later revealed that behind that iconic red mask was actually Mullin.

"Ryan asked me quite a while before we filmed if I wanted to be in the movie. He apologised that he wanted me to be in it," Mullin revealed earlier this year. "I'm pretty sure there wasn't an apology needed. It was something I was going to be over the moon to have the opportunity to do, and I'm eternally grateful for it.

"It was surreal when you see the set and things like that, but equally, I didn't have time to hang about. We recorded it during the season in one day, so I wasn't allowed much time there. Ryan and all the crew made sure I was in and out as quickly as possible. I suppose I got the royalty treatment, as if I was Ryan Reynolds. It was over and done with really quickly, in a couple of hours. It was something I really enjoyed. I found it quite easy, and also refreshing. It was different. I loved it."

Non-league players seldom find themselves fortunate to play football on a full-time basis later in their careers, yet Mullin had not only made a profession out of scoring goals, but landed himself a spot on the big screen as well.

The summer of 2024 proved to be Mullin's apex as a Wrexham icon, however. Once more, he went into a new season in recovery having undergone surgery on a long-term spinal problem. "It's something I've struggled with for a while," he admitted after going under the knife. "Because I was managing to play with the injury, I wasn't sure about having the operation, but the pain was getting worse. I couldn't even put my socks on the day after a match. I don't like taking painkillers but I had to. That's when we decided it had to be surgery and it's proved to be the correct decision."

After scoring once in his first nine matches to begin 2024-25, Mullin claimed he still had a considerable amount of rust to shake off: "I've never had surgery before but I was told it wasn't easy and, me being me, naively thought 'nah, I'll do it quicker than I could' and I got back really quick in terms of being able to train, but it's never going to feel 100 percent for a long time."

Mullin played in 17 further League One matches after breaking his duck, but scored only once more in that time, and his equaliser in an eventual 2-1 win at home to Blackpool on Boxing Day proved to be his final goal for Wrexham. From February 1 to the end of the season, he made only one further appearance - a 23-minute cameo off the bench in an EFL Trophy defeat to Peterborough.

Mullin had been exiled and did not feature in a League One matchday squad again after a loss at Stevenage on January 28. A combination of slow recovery from surgery and failure to live up to the quickened speed of the third tier saw him fall out of favour under head coach Phil Parkinson. Mid-season purchases Sam Smith and ex-England international Jay Rodriguez meant the 30-year-old was cast aside like yesterday's plaything.

Ker, as happy as ever to divulge into club matters, claimed Mullin still had a future in North Wales: "Ultimately, this season has not gone the way that any of us thought it was going to, or any of us wanted to go for Paul. But, I think there is still a huge future for him at the club." Shortly after, Parkinson claimed the striker was still in his plans for the 2025-26 season: "Mulls and Ollie [Palmer] will always be legends at this club for what they've done. They're under contract next year and they'll be back in pre-season ready to go again."

But the noise wouldn't go away. The press around Wrexham had scarcely been negative during the Reynolds and McElhenney era owing to their unparalleled success, yet the future of Mullin was a common talking point in spite of a third-straight promotion.

It would only be natural for a player to be unhappy with their manager if they went from the main man to out of the matchday squad altogether in under a year. Though Mullin has since claimed talk of a feud with Parkinson was 'nonsense', he didn't hide away from venting his frustration at the situation.

During the latest season of 'Welcome to Wrexham', Mullin said of his exile: "I let that get to me, to be honest, from where I've been to then only being allowed to play four games and finding myself being left out of the team. I resented it and I carried that for weeks because I felt it was unjust.

"I think I'm more annoyed now. It's the annoyance of training every single day, doing everything I can, and looking back on everything I've done. I feel like I was a main part of why we got into this situation, and then I'm not being allowed the platform to get back there, or the opportunity to go and do it again. It's difficult. I don't know what's caused him [Parkinson] to trust me less, but he clearly does.

"I've let go of all resentment and anger. Going forward, the only thing I can do is control myself. Lately, I've just been making sure that when I go home I'm satisfied with my day's work and not trying to satisfy someone else."

Heartbreakingly, Mullin also admitted: "Just to play one game in the Championship with Wrexham would be worth absolutely everything. It would be the icing on the cake for this story and who knows where it could end. I've enjoyed every minute here, and if we could get to the Championship, then that'd be phenomenal. From a personal point of view, I don't think I'll have any part to play in it from here on in."

On June 23, Mullin's exit was finally confirmed, heading to Wigan on loan. No outgoing Wrexham player had received such a theoretical guard of honour on their way out.

Reynolds took to Instagram to serenade the departing striker to his 52 million followers. "I can't imagine seeing Mulls on loan and in another kit. We wouldn't be where we are without his heart, skill and work ethic. We love you Paul Mullin." McElhenney, meanwhile, posted: "In four years, Paul Mullin has made history....on and off the pitch. I am profoundly, truly, madly, deeply grateful for everything that Paul has given this club....There is just so much to say but I'll keep it at this....There is only one Super Paul Mullin."

Mullin's own farewell message was rather subdued, simply posting: "All the very best to everyone at Wrexham this season, keep the train rolling." Regardless, he leaves as a one-of-a-kind hero to the club.

So this is where Mullin's Wrexham tale all but ends. Barring another Hollywood-style miracle, he will never wear that famous red again.

"It was sad to leave there how it's ended, in a way, that happens in football, you leave clubs," he said after completing his move to the Latics. "Just the way it's gone. it has been quite disappointing. But they say as one door closes another one opens and I'm ready for a new chapter. I'm buzzing to be here and to go out every week and play for Wigan. I'm excited for the next part of my story."

It was a matter of head over heart for Mullin in leaving to find further first-team opportunities. He said on Wednesday: "It's obviously a strange situation. Last year was difficult for me. Wrexham's a place I love, they've changed my life and given me many happy times. It's only a short career and as much as I love Wrexham, I want to play football. I don't want to be sat at home every weekend. People say it's the dream to be a footballer, but it's so difficult when you're training every day and at the end of the week, you don't get to do what you trained for. It's really tough."

With Wigan, Mullin will have the opportunity to feature far more regularly, and with a full pre-season under his belt for the first time in three years, he could very well find his best form again. For Wrexham, the Championship will prove the greatest test of Reynolds and McElhenney's ownership thus far. Perhaps their paths will cross again, but it's unlikely to be at a junction happier than any point of the last four years.