Let's be honest, a significant part of the last year was spent collectively obsessing over Connor Storrie as the grumpy-but-lovable Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry. Well, it looks like our boy is about to trade the ice rink for something a little... hotter.
The 26-year-old actor is in final talks to play the main villain opposite none other than Ryan Gosling in Marvel's upcoming Ghost Rider film. Yes, you read that right. From pining over his rival-turned-lover to, presumably, trying to take down a flaming skeleton on a motorcycle. It's quite the career pivot.
This is a huge move for Storrie, whose career, along with co-star Hudson Williams, absolutely exploded after Heated Rivalry became the show everyone was talking about. It's always a bit surreal seeing an actor you've loved in a specific, often queer-coded, role step into a massive mainstream blockbuster. But it seems to be a trend we're very here for.
A New Kind of Rivalry
The film, directed by Shawn Levy (who's also working with Gosling on a Star Wars project), is currently scheduled for a 2028 release, so we have some time to prepare ourselves emotionally. Gosling, fresh off his Kenergy world tour for Barbie, has apparently been wanting to play the demonic anti-hero for years. For those not deep into Marvel lore, Ghost Rider is a stuntman who sells his soul to a demon and becomes the 'Spirit of Vengeance'. Now, it seems Connor Storrie is set to be his primary antagonist.
While Marvel is keeping the details of Storrie's character under wraps, the prospect of him playing a full-on villain is fascinating. After watching him master the slow-burn romance and emotional vulnerability as Ilya, seeing him tap into a darker side will be a real test of his range.
From Our Screens to the MCU
Storrie isn't the only actor from a queer-fan-favourite project to get the Marvel call-up recently. With Heartstopper's Kit Connor also joining the MCU in the new X-Men lineup, it feels like the studio is finally noticing the immense talent that our community has been championing for ages. It’s great to see these actors get the major roles and paychecks they deserve.
We don't know who he's playing yet, but one thing's for sure: we'll be seated. It's going to be a wild ride seeing the star of our favourite hockey romance go head-to-head with a hell-powered Ryan Gosling. Get ready for a whole new kind of heated rivalry.
