The runaway success of Heated Rivalry transformed several relative unknowns into widely recognized performers almost overnight. Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changer novels, the series centers on closeted hockey rivals whose long-hidden relationship becomes the show’s emotional core. The program’s visibility has translated into flashing cameras, red carpets and a flood of new offers for its leads, and fans have reason to mark calendars: the series is scheduled to return for a second season in April 2027. That renewal has only increased interest in what the principal actors will do between now and the new season.
Because Heated Rivalry vaulted the cast into the spotlight, casting directors and brands are lining up. The principal actors are appearing at high-profile events, shooting glossy editorials, and selecting scripts more selectively. Beyond the glamour, each performer carries a slate of past credits and forthcoming work that gives viewers ways to follow them before season two arrives. Below is a compact guide to the four most visible cast members — their backgrounds, notable past roles, and the projects fans can watch or anticipate.
Connor Storrie: from indie shorts to an A24 comedy
Background and notable credits
Connor Storrie plays Ilya Rozanov on Heated Rivalry, the complex bisexual hockey star whose clandestine affair evolves into an openly felt romance. Before his breakout, Storrie worked as a model and appeared in several short films and independent features, including the LGBTQ+ coming-of-age title Riley, the high-profile feature Joker: Folie à Deux, and the science-fiction thriller April X. Those credits helped build the craft that made his turn as Ilya convincing and emotionally layered, positioning him for wider attention in both film and fashion circles.
What’s next
Looking ahead, Storrie is attached to Peaked, an upcoming A24 comedy in which two women revisit their troublesome teenage escapades at a reunion; the release date is currently unknown. The project signals a tonal shift from his dramatic work on Heated Rivalry, suggesting Storrie will explore lighter, more satirical material while continuing to accept smaller indie projects that play to his strengths.
Hudson Williams: a growing director-actor profile
Early roles and rise
Hudson Williams embodies Shane Hollander, the closeted rival who shares a long secret history with Ilya. Williams arrived at the show after a series of small-screen appearances and TV movies, including a procedural episode and holiday programming. Those early roles gave him steady experience and an on-set professionalism that made him a natural fit for the emotionally charged, serialized narrative of Heated Rivalry.
Upcoming slate and festivals
Williams has one of the busiest upcoming résumés among his castmates. He appears in the Crave drama Yaga (2026), and in Netflix’s eight-part dramatization The Altruist (2026), which chronicles the collapse of prominent crypto figures. He is also directing and starring in several short films: Rancid (2026), set to screen at the 2026 Hollywood Shortfest at LA Live; Yoko Loko (release date unknown); and Sheepskin, a short premiering at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth on March 28 (March 2026). Additional features include the thriller Encore (2026) and the coming-of-age drama 8 (release date unknown). Collectively, these projects reveal Williams’s ambition to split time between acting and behind-the-camera work.
François Arnaud and Robbie G.K.: diverse choices
François Arnaud’s eclectic path
Veteran performer François Arnaud appears in episode three of Heated Rivalry as Scott Hunter. Arnaud’s past includes roles in acclaimed television such as The Borgias, Schitt’s Creek, Blindspot and Yellowjackets, and he has also worked in film and music video projects. His next feature credits include the indie Fucktoys (theatrical release in 2026), the French miniseries Alice (2026) about early cinema pioneer Alice Guy Blaché, and a handful of festival-bound dramas: Someone’s Daughter (release date unknown) and Abril (release date unknown), the latter of which premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February but has no wide release currently scheduled. These roles underscore Arnaud’s comfort in international and genre-spanning work.
Robbie G.K.’s next steps
Robbie G.K. made a memorable impression as Kip Grady, the upbeat barista who falls for Scott Hunter. Before Heated Rivalry, he accumulated credits on youth and genre television such as The Next Step, Utopia Falls, Sheriff County and Overcompensating. While he has not announced new screen roles yet, Robbie recently signed with Amplified Management, a move that typically precedes a busy audition season and several forthcoming announcements.
How to follow them and why it matters
For viewers eager to catch these performers sooner, many of their earlier works are available across streaming platforms and festival circuits; hunters of emerging talent should watch indie festival listings and short-film lineups. The cast’s growing visibility also demonstrates how a single hit series can change career trajectories, enabling actors to move between mainstream studio pieces and independent, director-driven work. As season two of Heated Rivalry approaches in April 2027, fans will have multiple ways to engage with the actors’ evolving filmographies.