Reynolds and Jackman are painting this as the ultimate buddy-adventure, positioning themselves as down-to-earth guys who just happen to also own elite sports teams. Their joint statement promises 'action, comedy, heart' with trademark humor about hoping for pirates—classic PR deflection that keeps the narrative fun and approachable rather than focusing on their growing business empire.
Insiders note this is Reynolds' third celebrity ownership docuseries following Wrexham's massive success, signaling a clear pattern: Maximum Effort isn't just producing content—they're building an entertainment conglomerate disguised as friendship vibes. Jackman's involvement suggests he's fully embracing the Hollywood-producer pivot after his Wolverine finale, and sources say both are positioning for post-Marvel careers that keep them relevant without being dependent on studio casting calls.
The Bonds Flying Roos compete in the Rolex SailGP Championship with a $12.8 million prize pool across national teams piloting identical 50-foot foiling catamarans exceeding 60 mph. Tom Slingsby—Olympic gold medallist, America's Cup winner, and three-time SailGP champion—leads the team as driver and CEO, giving this series legitimate athletic credibility beyond celebrity vanity.
Reynolds has perfected the art of turning friendship into franchise, and Jackman's buying in hard. This isn't just a docuseries—it's another brick in their brand empire, and we should expect more 'Deadpool & Wolverine' reunions disguised as business ventures.
Move over, Wrexham—there’s a new sports obsession for Hollywood’s most unlikely power couple. Disney+ has officially greenlit an untitled docuseries following Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as co-owners of the Bonds Flying Roos, Australia’s team in the high-octane SailGP Championship. The series marks their first collaboration since 2024's 'Deadpool & Wolverine' shattered box office expectations, but this time the action happens on water rather than in a superhero showdown.
The docuseries will track Reynolds and Jackman as they dive into the world of elite sailing alongside Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, who serves as both driver and CEO of the Bonds Flying Roos. Slingsby isn't just a celebrity adjacent figure—he's one of the most decorated sailors in history with an America's Cup win and three SailGP championships under his belt. The series promises to give audiences an inside look at what it takes to compete at the highest level of a sport featuring identical 50-foot foiling catamarans capable of hitting speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour, all competing for a $12.8 million prize pool across global venues.
"This is our first collaboration since 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and we once again anticipate action, comedy, heart but with a lot more water," Reynolds and Jackman said in a joint statement. "And (fingers crossed) pirates. We hope there's pirates in SailGP." The quip about pirates showcases the pair's signature humor, but industry observers note it also serves as clever marketing—keeping the narrative lighthearted while their Maximum Effort production company expands into yet another content vertical that blends entertainment with legitimate sports coverage.
The sailing series joins a growing slate of Disney-affiliated docuseries following celebrities and their sports team ownership ventures. FX's 'Welcome to Wrexham' chronicled Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's acquisition of Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC, spawning multiple seasons and critical acclaim that legitimized the celebrity-ownership documentary format. Eva Longoria's Mexican soccer team Nexaca also received the docuseries treatment on FX, with Reynolds and McElhenney serving as additional investors and executive producers.
Now Maximum Effort is doubling down on the formula with Rob McElhenney's More Better Productions attached alongside Eureka Productions and Brent Hodge serving as director and showrunner. Eric Schrier, Disney Television Studios' president of direct-to-consumer international originals, strategic programming and emerging media, framed the project as a natural extension of Disney+'s celebrity-ownership content strategy. "Following Ryan, Hugh and the SailGP's Bonds Flying Roos Australian team's journey gives us a remarkable inside view of this thrilling sport and what it takes to compete at the highest level," Schrier said in a statement. "We couldn't be more excited to bring this story to Disney+ audiences around the world." The question onlookers are asking: how many sports teams can two Hollywood stars feasibly 'onboard' into before this stops being charming friendship content and becomes something else entirely?
