Creator of "Heated Rivalry" sees no need to confirm sexuality of lead actors in gay hockey romance

Jacob Tierney, the mind behind Heated Rivalry, has addressed questions about whether his lead actors, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, share the sexual identities of their on-screen characters. Tierney emphasized that such personal matters are not part of casting considerations. You cant ask questions like that when youre casting. Its actually illegal. What you look for is someones dedication and enthusiasm for the role, he explained.

The Canadian romantic drama, set in the competitive world of professional hockey, premiered on November 28 and has quickly gained viral attention online. Audiences are particularly captivated by the tension between the central characters, Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), as well as the bold performances of the young actors.

While fans have speculated about the actors personal orientations, Tierney remains uninterested in these inquiries. In a conversation with the LGBTQ+ outlet Xtra, he stated, Theres no need to delve into that. During casting, the focus is solely on whether actors are committed to the story and can bring authenticity to their roles.

Performances That Impress

Tierney praised both Williams and Storrie for their professionalism and dedication. Both of these actors came in with the mindset of making the story feel real. They fully committed to their roles and completely delivered, he said.

The actors themselves refrained from addressing their personal identities, but they reflected on the immediate connection formed during early readings. Williams remarked, Connor was challenging to reach at first, which actually heightened my performance. Storrie added, Different projects have different vibes. It was clear from the start when reading with Hudson that we were on the same wavelength.

Series Streaming and Creator Background

Jacob Tierney, who also co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the Ontario-based sitcom Letterkenny, has shared more candid anecdotes about the actors chemistry in other interviews. Recalling a bold remark from Williams after his initial scene with Storrie, Tierney shared that Williams commented, The other actor was good, but Connor felt like he might take control of the scene entirely.

Heated Rivalry is available for streaming on Crave and HBO Max, with new episodes released every Friday until the end of the month.

Author: Sophia Brooks