Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has confirmed he is exploring the possibility of buying a stake in Norwich City, adding his name to the growing list of celebrities venturing into English football ownership.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, the 57-year-old actor said discussions about a potential investment are already underway. "I'm very interested – and talking about it right now," Jackman said, expressing enthusiasm for the Championship club.
Jackman's connection to Norwich runs deeper than casual fandom. The Australian star, best known for his roles in the X-Men franchise and Les Misérables, revealed that his mother hails from the city, giving him a personal tie to the Canaries. He has visited Carrow Road on multiple occasions and spoke fondly of his experiences there.
"I think it's an exciting team, and it's going to be exciting year," Jackman said, before making a bold prediction about the club's prospects. "I went to Carrow Road a couple of times, and I love the Canaries, and this is the year we're going to get promoted. That's my prediction."
The actor went further, forecasting a double promotion party involving another club with Hollywood ties. "My prediction is Norwich and Wrexham are getting promoted this year," he added.
That comment led Jackman to playfully address his Deadpool co-star Ryan Reynolds, who alongside fellow actor Rob McElhenney owns Wrexham AFC. With both Norwich and Wrexham competing in the Championship this season, Jackman suggested the two clubs could soon find themselves as promotion rivals. "Good on Ryan, you do your thing. I'm all about the Canaries," he quipped, drawing a clear line between his loyalties and those of his fellow actor.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Jackman has been linked to a potential Norwich investment. The actor had previously disclosed that he was offered a chance to buy into the club back in 2010, an opportunity he chose not to pursue at the time.
Should Jackman's renewed interest translate into an actual stake, he would become the latest in a wave of celebrities entering English football's ownership ranks. Reynolds and McElhenney's success in raising Wrexham's profile has been mirrored by other high-profile investments across the football pyramid. NFL icon Tom Brady holds a stake in Birmingham City, whose side defeated Norwich 2-1 in a recent Championship meeting between the two clubs.
Elsewhere, television personality Martha Stewart and rapper Snoop Dogg are minority co-owners of Swansea City. Snoop Dogg's first visit to the Welsh club in February was met with an enthusiastic welcome, including a seven-minute lap of honor accompanied by fans twirling towels in a display reminiscent of American sporting traditions.
Other celebrity investors in the English game include Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan, who owns a stake in AFC Bournemouth, comedian Will Ferrell, a shareholder at Leeds United, and singer Ed Sheeran, who holds a minority stake in his hometown club, Ipswich Town.
At Norwich itself, American billionaire Mark Attanasio remains the club's majority shareholder. Attanasio, who also owns Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, initially bought into the club in 2022 before gradually increasing his holding. He assumed majority control in August 2024, taking over from longtime custodians Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones.
Whether Jackman's interest develops into a formal investment remains to be seen, but his comments have already generated fresh attention around Norwich City as the club pushes for a return to the Premier League.
Based on reporting from Independent (football).