Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned following a Welsh football club into an entertainment spectacle. From their on-screen antics to their roles as Wrexham AFC's co-chairmen, the duo consistently finds ways to blend football with comedy. But when it comes to recruiting actual players, they usually leave the serious decisions to the experts on the pitch.
That separation makes a mock recruitment interview a perfect playground for their humor. Put two celebrity owners across from a prospective player, and you already have room for their priorities to go hilariously off-script. Add a couple of Wrexham footballers to the mix, and the setup is ripe for a very unconventional team addition.
Reynolds and McElhenney star in a new Nex Playground campaign debuting October 6, marking their first appearance for the company since its Wrexham AFC partnership was announced earlier this year. Created in collaboration with Maximum Effort, the spot features the co-chairmen conducting a mock player interview alongside Wrexham players Josh Windass and Ben Sheaf. The twist? The recruit is a young Nex Playground player whose gaming skills earn them a spot in the spotlight.
Nex Playground's Wrexham Campaign Arrives Just Ahead of Sonic's Debut
The new spot follows Nex's partnership with Wrexham AFC, announced in June, which made the company the club's official kit sleeve sponsor for the 2026–27 season. The agreement also outlined a dedicated Nex Game Zone and youth-focused community initiatives, alongside plans for Nex to appear in Welcome to Wrexham. This campaign gives that relationship a comedy showcase featuring both the club's celebrity co-chairmen and members of its playing squad.
There is another familiar face on the way to Nex Playground immediately after the campaign's debut. Sonic Forces joins Play Pass on October 7, according to the campaign announcement, adding the blue hedgehog to the platform's lineup of active gaming experiences. For families interested in trying another recognizable entertainment franchise, the launch puts a new game on the calendar just a day after Reynolds and McElhenney's recruitment exercise.
Nex previously announced that its Sonic project would be developed by SEGA's HARDlight Studios, the team behind titles including Sonic Dream Team and Sonic Dash. The company described the game as a physically active take on the franchise's mobile running and action gameplay, adapted for Nex Playground. Access comes through Play Pass, the platform's separately sold content subscription.
The timing gives Nex two different ways to draw attention to its growing entertainment lineup this week. Reynolds and McElhenney bring the football comedy on October 6, while Sonic follows with a new reason for players to get moving on October 7. Wrexham's next great signing may still need to prove themselves on the pitch, but this particular recruitment process has room for a different kind of star.
For more on Reynolds' recent success, check out his Apple TV hit. And if you're curious about other streaming records, see Neagley's debut.
