A new television show about a secret romance between two hockey players is gaining fans fast. Heated Rivalry started streaming on HBO Max and Crave on November 28, 2025. The show’s star, Hudson Williams, is getting a lot of attention for his role as Shane Hollander, a talented but anxious athlete. In just a few days after the show’s release, Williams gained over 87,000 new followers on Instagram, showing how quickly his popularity is growing.
The show is based on a popular book by Rachel Reid and tells the story of two rival hockey players, Shane and Ilya Rozanov, who begin a hidden relationship. Williams acts alongside Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya. The show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, said the immediate chemistry between the two actors was perfect for the roles.
Who Is Actor Hudson Williams?
Hudson Williams is a 24-year-old Canadian actor. He was born on February 13, 2001. Williams has a mixed heritage that is important to him. He shared that his mother is Korean and his father is British-Dutch Canadian.
“I think it meant a lot to me and my mom,” Williams said about playing an Asian lead character on television. “My mom is Korean. She always thought it would be harder for me to break into film and acting because she hadn’t really seen anyone.”
Before landing his first major TV role in Heated Rivalry, Williams worked on several short films. He not only acted in them but also wrote and directed some. These films include Rancid, Brim Reaper, and Teresa’s Choice. He also had smaller parts on TV shows like Tracker and Allegiance.
Becoming Shane Hollander On Screen
Williams felt a strong personal connection to his character, Shane, from the very beginning. He said he “fell in love with Shane immediately” after reading the audition scenes.
He described Shane as a person who appears confident and in control but is actually filled with anxiety. Williams found playing this contrast both challenging and rewarding.
“Shane is very affable, even though he’s sort of a departure from myself. As much anxiety as I have, Shane has quadruple, tenfold more, and it’s just pouring out of him at all times,” Williams explained. He added that playing this high level of nervous energy was fun, even if it sometimes made his “stomach hurt.”
The role required Williams to perform many intimate scenes with his co-star, Connor Storrie. He talked about the work that went into making those moments feel real and important to the story.
Creating Chemistry With Co-Star Connor Storrie
The success of Heated Rivalry relies heavily on the believable relationship between Shane and Ilya. Show creator Jacob Tierney knew he found the right pair when Williams and Storrie first read their lines together.
“They read together and we were all like, ‘Oh my god, this is f–king done. Flush the rest of it down the toilet,’” Tierney said. “Their chemistry was just insane.”
Williams also knew their connection was special. He said that while he read lines with another actor who was being considered for the role of Ilya, the feeling was different with Storrie.
“I read with one other possible Ilya, and it was good. But something about Connor,” Williams recalled. “There was an inexplicable X-factor that just felt realer than what I thought it could possibly be.”
The two actors worked closely with an intimacy coordinator to choreograph their scenes, treating them like a carefully planned dance. This professional approach helped them build trust, which translated into a strong friendship off-screen. The pair even got matching “sex sells” tattoos after filming.
The Show’s Creator Addresses Fan Questions
With the show’s focus on a gay romance, some fans online have been curious about the real-life sexualities of the two lead actors. Showrunner Jacob Tierney has been very clear in interviews that this line of questioning is not appropriate.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to get into that stuff,” Tierney stated during an interview when the topic came up. He explained that asking about an actor’s sexuality during casting is against the law. What matters, he said, is the actor’s commitment to the role.
“What you have to gauge is somebody’s enthusiasm and willingness to do the work. And that’s what’s so impressive about both of these guys is they came into this being like, ‘Yeah, we’re here to do this, and we are here to make this story feel authentic and to be as real as possible.’ And they f–king hit it out of the park.”
This stance has been praised by many fans on social media who believe an actor’s private life should remain private.
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A Rapid Rise to Fame
The public response to Hudson Williams has been swift and significant. Data tracked by Out magazine shows his Instagram follower count skyrocketed after the show’s premiere.
Before the first trailer for Heated Rivalry was released in October 2025, Williams had about 10,000 followers. By the day before the premiere, that number had grown to 39,000. In the three days following the premiere, he gained approximately 15,000, then 36,000, and then 23,000 new followers. As of early December 2025, he has over 126,000 followers. This rapid growth mirrors the intense fan reaction to the show itself, which quickly became a major topic of discussion online.
Heated Rivalry is currently streaming, with new episodes released every Friday on HBO Max and Crave. The first season is scheduled to conclude on December 26, 2025.
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