Canadian actor François Arnaud has taken center stage in 2025 as Scott Hunter, the star of HBO Max’s popular sports drama Heated Rivalry. However, fans of suspenseful television might recognize him from a notable, though smaller, role in a different series. Yes, François Arnaud was in the Showtime hit Yellowjackets, where he played a character crucial to one storyline’s emotional core.
His performance as Paul in the show’s second season offered a glimpse of a life that never was for one of the stranded characters. This role, while brief, is part of a diverse career that has now led to his leading turn in Heated Rivalry, where he again portrays a complex queer character navigating love and identity.
François Arnaud played Paul, the secret boyfriend of Coach Ben Scott in Yellowjackets. Described as a New York writer, Paul was first mentioned in Season 1 but did not appear on screen until the show’s second season.
Paul represents the life Coach Ben could have had. Before the soccer team’s fateful plane crash, Paul wanted Ben to move to New York City and build a life together. However, Coach Ben, afraid to publicly acknowledge his sexuality and commit, turned down the offer. He boarded the flight that eventually crashed, stranding the team in the wilderness. Paul ended their relationship, telling Ben he needed someone ready to live fully and openly.
Arnaud’s character physically appeared in Yellowjackets during its second season. He is featured in a recurring role across four episodes.
His appearance is tied to a major traumatic event. After the survivors resort to cannibalizing their teammate Jackie, a horrified and deeply traumatized Coach Ben retreats into a catatonic state. In his mind, he escapes to an alternate reality where he never got on the plane and is instead living happily with Paul in New York.
This fantasy provides temporary solace, but it does not last. In a pivotal scene, Ben’s vision of Paul tells him he is not welcome in this imaginary world and that this is not where he is supposed to be. This harsh rejection from his own subconscious forces Coach Ben to confront the grim reality of his situation in the wilderness, leading him to a desperate state.
It is interesting to note that in both Yellowjackets and Heated Rivalry, François Arnaud plays queer characters in relationships defined by secrecy and the pressure to come out. However, the dynamics are reversed.
In Yellowjackets, Paul is the one who is open and ready for a public life, longing for Ben to acknowledge their love. He is frustrated by Ben’s fear and inability to take that step.
Conversely, in Heated Rivalry, Arnaud’s character Scott Hunter is the one gripped by fear. As a star hockey captain, he is terrified of coming out and insists on keeping his relationship with Kip completely hidden, at least initially. This contrast shows Arnaud’s skill in portraying different sides of a similar emotional struggle.
François Arnaud reflected on this aspect of his Heated Rivalry character, noting, “There’s something about him where he can’t take a full breath. Even though he’s not ready to socially be accepted as everything he is, there’s an emotional availability from the get-go that I really relate to.”
Arnaud is not the only actor to bridge these two series. Sophie Nélisse, who plays teenage Shauna in Yellowjackets, also appears in Heated Rivalry as movie actress Rose Landry.
While his role in Yellowjackets was a memorable guest spot, François Arnaud has built a substantial career in television and film over nearly two decades.
He first gained major attention for his role as Cesare Borgia in the Showtime historical drama The Borgias, which aired from 2011 to 2013. Other notable TV credits include playing the psychic Manfred Bernardo in Midnight, Texas, a recurring role on Blindspot, and a memorable guest appearance as David’s ex-boyfriend on the beloved comedy Schitt’s Creek.
His film work includes roles in I Killed My Mother by Xavier Dolan and the 2022 detective movie Marlowe alongside Liam Neeson. In 2025, his career reached a new level when he landed the lead role of Scott Hunter in Heated Rivalry, a series that has become a significant hit.
Also Read:
For viewers who want to see François Arnaud’s performance as Paul, Yellowjackets is available for streaming on the Showtime platform and through Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on.
His current starring role in Heated Rivalry is streaming on HBO Max in the United States and on Crave in Canada. The first season of the sports romance drama is now available, with the finale having aired on December 26, 2025.
Also Read: Loki Joins Letterboxd One Million Watched Club as Second Disney+ Series to Achieve Milestone
