If you’ve been glued to your screen watching Heated Rivalry, you aren’t alone. The tension between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov is palpable, and frankly, it’s sending viewers into a frenzy. But it turns out, that electric spark wasn’t just movie magic—it was there from the very first moment stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie read together.
In a recent chat with Out, the actors and showrunner Jacob Tierney spilled the tea on the audition process, and let’s just say, the casting choice was a no-brainer. Connor Storrie, who brings the cocky yet complex Ilya to life, revealed that the connection was immediate.
“Hudson was the third actor that I read with,” Storrie said. “The first two I was like, ‘Okay, this is cool,’ and then Hudson came on. Jacob [showrunner] actually texted me directly and was like, ‘What do you think?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, Hudson, for sure.’ Instantly.”
But the real kicker comes from Hudson Williams’ side of things. While he admitted reading with another potential Ilya was “good,” it lacked that specific X-factor he found with Storrie. In fact, his feedback to Tierney after the chemistry test was so raw and honest, it basically sealed the deal.
According to Tierney, Williams gave one of the most memorable casting notes ever: “Hudson told me, ‘The other guy was good, but Connor felt like he was going to pin me down and f**k me.'”
When Storrie heard this during the interview, he was genuinely shocked, laughing, “Damn! Is that what it is?!” Tierney confirmed it, noting that was the exact moment he knew he had found his pair. After all, for a show like Heated Rivalry, that kind of visceral chemistry isn’t just a bonus; it’s a requirement.
Beyond the steaminess, the actors have dived deep into their characters’ psyches. Williams noted that he fell in love with Shane almost instantly, crying by the time he finished the episode 6 script. He feels a deep protectiveness over the character, especially regarding Shane’s intense internal struggles.
“Shane is very affable, even though he’s sort of a departure from myself,” Williams explained. “As much anxiety as I have, Shane has quadruple, tenfold more, and it’s just pouring out of him at all times.”
As for the source material, both actors kept their prep somewhat contained. They didn’t read Rachel Reid’s novels before auditioning, preferring to stick to the scripts first. However, they both devoured the first book before filming began to get the vibe right. Williams, however, held off on reading the sequel, The Long Game, to avoid knowing his character’s future too soon.
With episodes dropping every Friday on HBO Max, it’s clear that whatever lightning these two caught in that audition room is translating perfectly to the screen.
