It’s August, a.k.a. the month Heated Rivalry fans have been waiting for: the hot hockey romance is finally beginning production on its highly anticipated second season!
After the series premiered in late 2025 and became a global phenomenon, viewers understandably wanted more, more, more—only to crash out when they learned Season 2 wasn’t projected to air until April 2027 at the earliest.
And while that felt too far off to bear, just look at how time flies!: It’s already late summer 2026, and the boys are back in town Canada, presumably preparing to film more scenes where they passionately thrust their “crash pads” into one another.
It’s true, both Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been spotted roaming around Toronto where production is reportedly slated to begin soon. They look positively delighted to be reunited—and swole as ever.
How about we take this to the next level?
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But there have been whispers that Heated Rivalry‘s not the only project Storrie’s in the city for…
Many believe the 26-year-old actor also has a role in The Bell Jar, the big-screen adaptation of the classic Sylvia Plath novel from writer-director Sarah Polley (who most recently won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Woman Talking).
It’s set to be the film debut of out, queer pop star Billie Eilish, playing protagonist Esther Greenwood, a college student whose internship at a women’s magazine leads to an intense depression. Based on Plath’s own experiences in the 1950s, it follows Esther’s worsening mental health as she struggles to find her place in a patriarchal post-war society where women are still expected to become homemakers & housewives.
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Anybody else feeling some vibes here?
Though Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) has been announced to play Esther’s mother, Mrs. Greenwood, other cast members have yet to be confirmed.
In fact, the only reason there are rumors of Storrie’s involvement is because of the Instagram account for historic museum, in Ontario! Yep, you read that right: the Parkwood National Historic Site in Oshawa was a filming location for The Bell Jar, and they previously posted a Reel that said, “That’s camera wrap on Parkwood’s role in the Sarah Polley directed film, The Bell Jar, starring Billie Eilish in her cinematic debut, along with Connor Storrie.”
But since Storrie’s casting had not yet received an official announcement, it seemed the museum may have jumped the gun, letting the detail slip before they were supposed to. The fact that the Reel in question was deleted shortly thereafter only added further fuel to that fire.
Well, fast-forward a month later, and Eilish has been spotted in costume in Toronto for the film. Is it just a coincidence that Storrie happens to be in the city at the same time, or is this further proof that he’s part of this Bell Jar adaptation? Latest reports say production of Heated Rivalry Season 2 doesn’t begin until Aug. 10, so maybe Storrie’s there early to prepare—or maybe here’s there for the movie and Williams is just keeping him company between takes.
Of course, the question remains who Storrie could possibly be playing in The Bell Jar. Plath’s acclaimed feminist novel is largely focused on the perspective of Esther, and as such the male characters feel more tertiary, though there are a number that come in and out of the narrative.
The most prominent male part would be Esther’s high school boyfriend, Buddy, who intends to marry her one day, even though it’s clear the two have very different ideas for the future. While Storrie’s only two years older than Eilish, it’s hard to picture him believably playing the character as a teenager.
Another role that perhaps is a better fit is Constantin, a UN interpreter that Esther’s set up on a date with in NYC. He’s said to be sophisticated with a thick Russian accent—and we know how well Storrie could pull that off! But would it be too similar to Ilya Rozanov for an actor who no doubt wants to be showcasing his range?
The other strong possibility is a wealthy DJ named Lenny that Esther & her friend Doreen meet at a country club party. He’s not quite as consequential to the story, but the aforementioned Parkwood National Historic Site would be an ideal location to film said party, so perhaps that’s why Storrie was (allegedly!) filming there.
Anyway, given the award-winning pedigree of director Sarah Polley, there’s already plenty of buzz for the project, with some wondering if there’s a Best Supporting Actor possibility for Storrie here, sight unseen.
It’s definitely way too soon to tell, but what we do know is that Connor Storrie’s been busy building quite the career for himself beyond Heated Rivalry. In the past eight months alone, he’s filmed the star-studded high school reunion comedy Peaked and the crime thriller Turpentine opposite Melissa McCarthy, has popped up on For All Mankind & Criminal Minds, has filmed a bootylicious Verizon ad, and even earned an Emmy nomination for his guest hosting stint on Saturday Night Live.
The point is: The man is everywhere, and if it turns out he’s already in Toronto to continue filming The Bell Jar, don’t be surprised. Of course, if he’s just there early for a little rest & relaxation pre-Heated Rivalry Season 2, well that’s fine, too—he probably deserves a break!
Stay tuned for more updates on The Bell Jar, Heated Rivalry Season 2, and allt he exciting projects Connor Storrie’s (reportedly!) involved with.
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The actor also reflected on his “sissy” younger self: “I used not to like him.”
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