Hudson Williams, the breakout star of the hit series Heated Rivalry, has a specific Hollywood director in mind for his future. The actor shared his career hopes after the show’s success. The show made him an international star. Williams is clear about his goals.
The 24-year-old actor became famous for playing Shane Hollander. His performance was praised for its subtlety and emotional depth. Before this role, Williams worked on short films and had small TV parts. Now, he is looking ahead. He wants to work with directors known for strong, character-driven stories.
The Director Hudson Williams Admires
In recent interviews, Hudson Williams named Todd Phillips as a director he wants to work with. Phillips is famous for films like Joker and Joker: Folie à Deux. Williams’s co-star, Connor Storrie, worked with Phillips on Joker: Folie à Deux. Storrie played a key role in that film.
Storrie’s experience with Phillips left a strong impression. Phillips saw something special in Storrie during his audition. He noted Storrie’s “nuanced physicality” and “wonderful intensity”. Williams has heard about this collaborative environment. It seems to be a major reason he wants to work with Phillips.
Williams admires directors who build trust with their actors. He values a set where performers feel safe to try new things. His work on Heated Rivalry with director Jacob Tierney was like this. Tierney created a space where Williams and Storrie could do their best work. Williams wants to find that same creative trust in future projects.
Building A Career Beyond Heated Rivalry
Williams is not new to the film industry. He started his career writing, directing, and acting in short films. Even while Heated Rivalry was airing, he released a short film called Hold Your Back. He has a feature film, Encore, in post-production. This shows he is serious about building a diverse career.
The actor has clear ideas about his future roles. He does not want to be put in a box. After playing the anxious and reserved Shane Hollander, he hopes to take on different kinds of characters. He wants people to believe in him for roles he might not expect to get.
“I just hope more people keep giving me a chance like Jacob did. And yeah, I hope to work on projects where people believe in me for something that maybe I didn’t believe people would believe in me for,” Williams said.
How Heated Rivalry Changed Everything
Heated Rivalry was a surprise hit. It first aired on the Canadian service Crave in late November 2025. Just before its release, HBO Max picked it up for distribution in the United States and other countries. This move introduced Williams and Storrie to a global audience almost overnight.
The show’s success was fast and intense. Fans loved the story of two hockey players having a secret romance. The intimate scenes between Williams and Storrie got a lot of attention. An intimacy coordinator, Chala Hunter, helped choreograph these scenes. This ensured the actors felt safe and the story felt real.
The public reaction changed Williams’s life. He went from being a working actor in Vancouver to someone recognized at industry parties in West Hollywood. He and Storrie even surprised fans at a gay sports bar, an event that felt like a major career moment.
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What’s Next For Hudson Williams
Williams has a busy future. Heated Rivalry has been confirmed for a second season. Reports also say that Williams and Storrie have signed contracts for a potential third season. The next season will adapt the next book in the series, The Long Game.
While he waits to film more Heated Rivalry, Williams is focused on his other projects. He continues to develop his own short films. He is also represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which will help him find new opportunities. His goal is to work with great directors on meaningful stories. Naming Todd Phillips is a clear signal of the direction he wants his career to go.
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