Wrexham Redemption for Paul Mullin? Why Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney Reunion Could Happen as Wales International Hopeful Is Told He’s Not on ‘the Scrapheap’

The Cult Hero Who Defined the Wrexham Dream

When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney walked into the SToK Racecourse back in 2020, one of their first bold statements was signing a relatively unheralded striker from Cambridge United: Paul Mullin. At the time, the move looked ambitious, maybe even risky. Fast forward a few years, and Mullin had become the beating heart of the Wrexham revolution—scoring goals, breaking records, and dragging the club back into the Football League after 15 painful years in the wilderness.

For fans, Mullin wasn’t just another signing. He was the face of the project. A working-class striker with a knack for finding the back of the net, he embodied the Hollywood dream that Reynolds and McElhenney sold to the world.

And yet, as football so often reminds us, heroes can quickly find themselves on the fringes. Mullin, the man who fired Wrexham to back-to-back promotions, now finds himself on loan at Wigan Athletic. His future at the club he helped transform looks uncertain—but not, according to many, impossible.

Money Well Spent by Hollywood Co-Owners

When Reynolds and McElhenney first took charge, skeptics dismissed their takeover as a publicity stunt. What did two American actors know about the rough-and-tumble world of lower-league football in North Wales?

Then they signed Paul Mullin.

At Cambridge, Mullin had just scored 32 league goals, earning the Golden Boot in League Two. He was hot property, with Championship clubs circling. For him to drop down to the National League to join Wrexham was a statement of intent from the new owners. And boy, did it pay off.

Across 172 appearances, Mullin scored 110 goals—an astonishing strike rate that not only secured promotion but also made him a three-time Player of the Year. For Wrexham fans, every goal was another reminder that Reynolds and McElhenney’s investment wasn’t just about glossy documentaries or celebrity endorsements. It was about building something real.

Paul Mullin Wrexham GFX

Wrexham Record: The Numbers That Made Him a Legend

Statistics don’t always tell the full story, but in Mullin’s case, they paint a vivid picture.

• 110 goals in 172 games

• Three consecutive Player of the Year awards

• Key figure in three successive promotions, from the National League to the Championship

• Countless viral moments on and off the pitch, from Hollywood red carpets to those now-famous Las Vegas trips with the squad

He wasn’t just scoring goals; he was creating memories. Mullin’s ability to thrive under pressure, often popping up with decisive strikes in crucial games, turned him into more than a striker. He became a symbol.

Loan Ranger: Offloaded by Parkinson

But football moves quickly. Despite his heroics, Mullin found himself slipping down the pecking order under manager Phil Parkinson. With Wrexham aiming for the Premier League, marquee signings arrived—players with higher-league pedigrees, bigger reputations, and fresher legs.

By the summer of 2025, the unthinkable happened: Mullin was sent out on loan to Wigan Athletic.

On the surface, it looked like the end of an era. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that the door has not been slammed shut. Mullin still has two years left on his Wrexham contract, and with the Red Dragons currently struggling in the Championship, the whispers of a recall have begun.

Paul Mullin Wrexham 2024-25

Mullin Target: Wrexham Return & International Debut

Former Wrexham manager Dean Saunders has been one of the loudest voices in support of Mullin’s redemption arc. Speaking to WDW Bingo, Saunders said what many fans already feel:

“One thing about Paul Mullin is that he is a goal scorer, and he always will be. He knows where the net is, and when he is in form on a scoring streak, I’m not sure there is any forward scarier in the EFL.”

Saunders went even further, suggesting that not only could Mullin return to Wrexham, but he could also finally achieve another dream: pulling on the red shirt of Wales at international level.

“It’s hard to find natural goal scorers, and that’s exactly what Paul is. Wales could use some of his firepower. I wouldn’t toss him on the scrapheap yet.”

For a player often overlooked by the national setup, such words matter. And for Wrexham fans, the idea of their cult hero getting a Wales call-up would be the ultimate vindication.

New Boss at Wrexham? Questions of Parkinson

There’s also the matter of Wrexham’s current form. After flying up the divisions, the club has hit a rough patch. Eight goals scored, 10 conceded—numbers that paint a picture of a side struggling to adapt to Championship life.

Phil Parkinson, the man who masterminded the rise, is now under pressure. Questions about whether he can take the team to the next level are growing louder. Should results continue to falter, a managerial change might be on the horizon.

And in football, a new manager often means a new chance for old favorites. If Parkinson departs, Mullin’s path back into the first team could open wide.

Why a Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney Reunion Still Makes Sense

From a purely footballing perspective, Mullin’s return would give Wrexham something they desperately lack right now: a proven Championship goal scorer with a deep bond to the fans.

From a storytelling angle, it’s almost too perfect. Hollywood loves a redemption arc, and there’s no bigger narrative than a cult hero being written off, only to come back and save the day.

Reynolds and McElhenney understand this better than anyone. Their ownership has always been about more than points on a table. It’s about moments, about emotion, about giving fans memories that last forever. A Mullin return would tick every box.

Not on the Scrapheap: Why Mullin Still Has Value

The modern football landscape often discards players quickly. Once you’re over 28 or 29 and not playing at the highest level, the narrative becomes that you’re finished. But Mullin is living proof that age is just a number when you know where the goal is.

In today’s market, as Saunders pointed out, a striker who bags 15 goals in a season is suddenly valued at £100 million. Mullin may not be in the Premier League, but his goal-scoring instincts remain priceless.

For Wigan, he’s already proving that he can still deliver. For Wrexham, the temptation to recall him will only grow if their current forwards continue to misfire.

Conclusion: Redemption Still on the Cards

So, is this the end of Paul Mullin at Wrexham? Not just yet.

With two years left on his contract, a fanbase that adores him, and owners who understand the power of a good comeback story, Mullin’s journey at Wrexham may still have another chapter. Add in the possibility of a Wales call-up, and suddenly the striker many were ready to write off looks like a man still capable of surprising everyone.

If football is about anything, it’s about belief. And in Wrexham, belief has always been the currency.

Don’t bet against Paul Mullin’s redemption—especially not with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watching.