Two rival hockey gamers strike up a romance off the ice within the fiery new Canadian LGBTQ romance collection Heated Rivalry based mostly on Rachel Reid’s novels. Starring Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, the brand new Crave and HBO Max present shortly grew to become the web’s obsession after the primary two episodes of season 1 premiered in November 2025.
Whereas the present’s success could have appeared sudden to viewers, Hudson instructed The Hollywood Reporter that the breakout second felt “pure,” explaining that he believed within the mission from the very starting. As fan enthusiasm exploded on-line, each Hudson and Connor noticed their profiles rise virtually in a single day, with audiences falling arduous for his or her on-screen chemistry and emotionally charged performances.
Beneath, Hollywood Life has gathered all of the information we all know to date about Hudson amid his rise to fame. Get to know him and study extra about his profession right here!
Hudson Is of Korean & British-Dutch-Canadian Descent
Throughout a November 2025 interview with The PR Press, Hudson opened up about enjoying Shane in Heated Rivalry and the illustration of his Asian Canadian heritage.
“I’m half-Korean, after which my dad is British-Dutch Canadian,” Hudson stated. “I feel it meant rather a lot to me and my mother. .. My mother is Korean. She at all times thought it could be more durable for me to interrupt into movie and performing as a result of she hadn’t actually seen anybody.”
Hudson Is Not Solely an Actor — He’s Additionally a Director & Author
In accordance with his IMDb profile, Hudson has written, directed and acted briefly movies. He co-wrote, co-directed and starred within the 2024 brief Rancid.
Hudson Is 24 Years Previous
Hudson was born in 2001, based on a number of shops. This may make him 24 years outdated right this moment.
Hudson Has Been Movie Appearing Since at Least 2024
As seen on his IMDb profile, Hudson’s on-screen work started in 2024 with brief movies and in varied TV reveals. He starred within the shorts Brim Reaper, Teresa’s Selection, Peace of Thoughts, Mrs. Changs Excellent Tooth, Chad GPT, The Courting Recreation and Snow Angel.
On TV, Hudson appeared in a single episode of Tracker and Allegiance, and he starred within the TV film All I Want for Christmas and the movie No one Dumps My Daughter.
Heated Rivalry Is Hudson’s First Essential TV Function
Though Hudson had constructed an in depth movie résumé, Heated Rivalry marked his first main tv function — and it has shortly develop into a breakout second in his profession. Hudson instructed The Hollywood Reporter that whereas he “at all times believed in” the mission, he by no means anticipated the fast rise in consideration that got here with the present’s viral success, including, “There’s no method to put together for what this facet of issues appears like.”
