British-born actor Hudson Williams has been busy since the breakout success of Heated Rivalry. The series, which followed two rival ice-hockey players, propelled him into the spotlight and opened doors to new television and film opportunities. As the second season of that show continues production in Canada, Williams is simultaneously preparing for the premiere of the supernatural thriller Yaga and polishing a first-feature script that centers on an ex-hockey player.
In a recent conversation with Entertainment Weekly the actor described a paradox that has emerged while drafting his screenplay. He explained that the protagonist’s former hockey background feels inevitable, even though he worries the similarity to his recent television role might feel repetitive. “We’re getting tripped up on it and we’re considering other sports, but for some reason this character just made way more sense being an ex-hockey player,” he said, noting that the creative process sometimes feels like “busting through the prison of your own mind.”
Yaga: a modern witch tale on the Canadian coast
The upcoming eight-episode, four-hour miniseries Yaga adapts Kat Sandler’s 2019 stage play into a contemporary mystery. Set in the fictional coastal town of Whittock the show reinterprets Slavic folklore about Baba Yaga for a present-day audience. The series launches on AMC+ in the United States on 23 October and on Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom on 31 October.
Williams takes on the dual responsibility of portraying the missing heir Henry Park and his awkward housemate Logan Casey. The narrative follows private investigator Rapp—played by Noah Reid—who partners with local detective Carson (portrayed by Clark Backo) to untangle the disappearance. Carrie-Anne Moss appears as university professor Kathryn Hargrove whose scholarly expertise adds a layer of occult intrigue.
Williams’ ex-hockey movie script: a creative knot
Beyond the small-screen work, Williams is penning a feature film that places an ex-hockey player at its core. The premise emerged while he reflected on his own experience inhabiting a hockey-centric television character. He acknowledges that the sport’s imagery resonates strongly with his own artistic identity, yet he remains wary of self-referential redundancy. “It’s almost like you have to bust through the prison of your own mind,” he remarked, underscoring the internal debate that shapes the screenplay’s direction.
The script remains untitled, but its development has already sparked conversations with potential collaborators. Williams indicated that the story will explore life after professional sport, using the protagonist’s past as a springboard for broader themes of identity and reinvention.
Future work: Canadian productions and new collaborations
While the ex-hockey script undergoes refinement, Williams has already signed onto two additional television projects. He is attached to Apparatus a comedic thriller headlined by Dylan O’Brien and to Tyrant a culinary thriller featuring a cast that includes Charlize TheronJulia Garner and other notable names.
Production on the second season of Heated Rivalry continues in Canada, slated to return with six new episodes. This continuation not only sustains the momentum generated by the original run but also keeps Williams rooted in the Canadian filming landscape that has become a fertile ground for his recent projects.
As Yaga prepares to debut on both sides of the Atlantic and his new movie script navigates the delicate balance between homage and originality, the actor is poised to expand his repertoire while confronting the very creative constraints he describes.
