“Heated Rivalry” might’ve misplaced a critical quantity of warmth if it stayed at its unique streamer, the present’s star François Arnaud has claimed.
The actor, who performs closeted skilled hockey participant Scott Hunter on the Canadian sports activities romance, shared the behind-the-scenes tidbit throughout his Tuesday look on “CBS Mornings.”
After hosts Gayle King and Vladimir Duthiers gave kudos to Crave and HBO Max for giving the now-viral collection life in 2025, Arnaud shared that he felt the present couldn’t have been made within the U.S.
“It was arrange at an enormous streamer earlier than,” he stated. “They usually had so many notes and so many ideas on what that present may very well be that [creator Jacob Tierney] determined to go away them and get it made in Canada.”
Per Arnaud, Tierney’s determination resulted in “Heated Rivalry” being granted “a a lot smaller funds,” however that it allowed him to make the present that he wished.
“I feel that’s what individuals are responding to,” Arnaud continued. “And I feel, in a approach, it’s an enormous lesson for Hollywood individuals. Like, this is sort of a area of interest present. No film stars. And it’s a a lot greater sensation.”
As for the notes in-question? Arnaud stated the unique streamer wished “no kissing till episode 5.”
That may’ve brought on the present to have taken a wildly totally different tone, as the present iteration of “Heated Rivalry” has turn out to be a sensation for its graphic intercourse scenes. Although, Arnaud defended it’s so way more than its specific content material.
“Effectively, I feel the hook is the intercourse. You already know, that’s how the primary two episodes begin. That’s how they get individuals,” he famous. “And I feel that’s why it comes as such a shock, I feel, when it turns into so emotionally affecting and folks assume like, ‘I’m watching the recent hockey present and, oh wow, I’m crying now.’”
Primarily based on the “Sport Changers” e-book collection, “Heated Rivalry” follows two hockey stars (performed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie) as they fall right into a secret romance that spans years.
The present has already nabbed a Season 2 renewal from Crave and HBO Max, the place all of the episodes from Season 1 can be found to stream.
Watch Arnaud’s full “CBS Mornings” look above.
