Ryan Reynolds has turned the side quest into something of an art form, moving from Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile to Wrexham AFC, Maximum Effort and a growing portfolio of investments. His knack is rarely just about owning a stake, but about finding a story around whatever he touches and making the audience part of it. Even his personal interests, from watches to football, tend to become extensions of that same restless curiosity.

So when Reynolds suddenly surfaced on the Isle of Man, the internet got another very Reynolds-shaped side quest to investigate. This time, though, there was no elaborate campaign or Hollywood premiere attached to it.

The Deadpool star was spotted on the Isle of Man on October 1, with local reports confirming that he had visited the studio of Roger W. Smith, one of the most respected independent watchmakers working today. Reynolds documented the outing in an Instagram post, pairing photographs from the island with a characteristically dry caption. 

“The Isle of Man is one of the best-kept secrets. I must’ve walked half the Island this morning. What a gorgeous place to live. Nicest people, a dose of perfect weather and home to one of the world’s greatest watchmakers, Mr @rogerwsmithltd. Truly an honour to meet him,” he said.

Roger W. Smith established his studio in 2001 and trained under legendary British horologist George Daniels, developing a highly individual approach to traditional mechanical watchmaking. His studio produces only a small number of watches each year, with the company describing its output as around 15 to 20 pieces. Reynoldss post about Smith, makes a visit there a particularly niche detour even by Reynolds standards.

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For Reynolds, it is a fitting detour. His business career has long blurred the line between celebrity, collector and creative operator and his recent movie Mayday is smashing the streaming business. TIME has documented how Maximum Effort, Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile and Wrexham became parts of a wider entrepreneurial ecosystem built around his instinct for storytelling and marketing.

The visit became even more personal when Ryan Reynolds encountered a fan on Douglas promenade. BBC reported that 33-year-old Vinus Arevalo, who has lived on the island for more than four years, spotted him outside her workplace and was initially unsure whether she was really looking at the actor. Reynolds then called her over and invited her to take a photograph, leaving her “starstruck” and describing the encounter as “an amazing experience.”

The Isle of Man has already become an unlikely Hollywood stop in 2026. Channing Tatum filmed the TT-inspired movie Isle of Man there, while Brad Pitt visited during production and was spotted watching the famous TT races. Reynolds has now added his own chapter to that increasingly star-studded island scrapbook.

Whether the trip was business, horology, downtime or simply another Reynolds side quest remains unclear. Either way, his photos have put an unexpectedly glamorous spotlight on a place he clearly enjoyed discovering. 

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What do you think of Reynolds’ Isle of Man detour? Share your thoughts in the comments.