Watch Connor Storrie movies and TV shows now
Connor Storrie’s rise from supporting parts to leading man hinges on one performance. As Ilya Rozanov in the sports romance series *Heated Rivalry*, he turned a supporting character from a popular book series into the show’s breakout star and the reason many viewers first search Connor Storrie movies and TV shows.
From Texas to Toronto
Storrie was born in Aurora, Colorado, and raised in Odessa, Texas. Gymnastics training gave him early body awareness that later helped with skating scenes.
He moved to Los Angeles after high school and began booking small roles in 2018. The work stayed modest until the call for *Heated Rivalry* arrived in 2024.
Creators needed an actor who could sell both elite athleticism and a Russian accent. Storrie’s gymnastics background and willingness to learn Russian put him ahead of more experienced names.
Preparing the accent
Storrie hired a dialect coach and spent months practicing Russian consonants before cameras rolled. He recorded lines on his phone during commutes and played them back in the car.
Language prep proved harder than skating lessons. The production provided a skating double for wide shots, yet Storrie still had to look convincing in close-ups.
Once the accent clicked, he added small physical habits. Viewers noticed Ilya rubbing his thumb against his palm when nervous, a detail Storrie invented during table reads.
Shooting the pilot
Season one filmed in Toronto during the winter of 2025. Outdoor rink sequences required heaters between takes to keep cast and crew from freezing.
Storrie and co-star Hudson Williams rehearsed fight choreography for weeks. The on-ice tension had to read as rivalry before the script allowed any hint of romance.
After the first cut screened for the network, executives ordered two additional scenes that deepened Ilya’s homesickness, giving Storrie more quiet moments to showcase the character’s loneliness.
The viral moment
Episode four dropped in late November 2025. A single scene where Ilya confesses his feelings in Russian subtitles spread across TikTok within hours.
Fan edits paired the dialogue with vintage hockey footage, pushing the clip past 12 million views in three days. Storrie’s name began trending on X the same weekend.
Crave and HBO Max both reported record sign-ups for the series in the following week, confirming that one performance had turned a niche Canadian import into appointment viewing.
Earlier screen time
Before *Heated Rivalry*, Storrie’s most visible credit was a cameo as a young inmate in *Joker: Folie à Deux*. The role lasted less than two minutes but placed him on a major studio set.
He also appeared as Apartment Guy in the Hulu limited series *Tiny Beautiful Things* and played the lead in the 2023 indie *Riley*.
Those smaller parts taught him how to work quickly and hit emotional beats without much dialogue, skills he later used to make Ilya feel lived-in from the first episode.
Hosting SNL
Storrie hosted *Saturday Night Live* on February 28, 2026, with musical guest Mumford & Sons. The booking came directly after the series finale aired.
During the monologue he joked about learning Russian verbs while his friends still thought he was “just skating around Toronto.” The line landed because audiences already knew the accent work behind it.
The appearance introduced him to viewers who had skipped the show, prompting another spike in searches for Connor Storrie movies and TV shows the following Monday.
Next season plans
Season two begins filming in Toronto this summer. Writers have confirmed the story will move beyond the first book and explore how public scrutiny affects the couple’s relationship.
Storrie has already started language refreshers. He told interviewers he wants Ilya’s Russian to sound even more natural when the character returns home for a family subplot.
Producers are negotiating with NHL arenas for additional location shoots, a step up from the practice rinks used in season one.
Other 2025 projects
Storrie guest-starred as Lance Kingston in an episode of *Criminal Minds: Evolution* that aired in April. The dark procedural role contrasted sharply with Ilya’s warmth.
He also appears in the indie drama *April X*, playing a musician navigating a late-night tour. The film is slated for limited release later this year.
Meanwhile, he is attached to write and direct a short titled *Transaction Planet*, signaling interest in moving behind the camera once the series schedule allows.
What to watch now
Start with *Heated Rivalry* on HBO Max if you want the performance that made Storrie a household name. The six-episode first season streams in full and sets up the story for season two.
For earlier work, *Joker: Folie à Deux* is available on most major platforms, and the *Tiny Beautiful Things* pilot remains on Hulu. Both offer quick glimpses of his range before the breakout role.
Upcoming titles like *April X* and his *Criminal Minds* guest spot will expand the list of Connor Storrie movies and TV shows worth tracking through the rest of 2026.
Moving forward
Storrie’s path shows how one fully committed performance can shift an entire career trajectory. As long as *Heated Rivalry* continues to draw audiences, the list of Connor Storrie movies and TV shows will keep growing, and viewers will have more reasons to keep watching.
