'Criminal Minds' tried to cast Hudson Williams after Connor Storrie’s new role on 'Evolution'

Showrunner Erica Messer revealed that production team wanted to cast Williams but scheduling conflicts came in the way

Criminal Minds: Evolution nearly reunited Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams on-screen after producers attempted to cast Williams following Storrie’s upcoming guest arc.

According to Us Weekly, showrunner Erica Messer revealed that the production team actively explored bringing Williams onto the Paramount+ crime drama after casting Storrie in Season 19. “Trust me, we looked [into it],” Messer said. “We were like, ‘Is he available?’”

However, scheduling conflicts ultimately prevented the casting from happening. Messer explained that Williams is set to begin filming Season 2 of Heated Rivalry in August, the same period Criminal Minds: Evolution would have needed him available. “We tried,” she added.

Storrie, meanwhile, is set to appear in a multi-episode arc during Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution. The actor was originally expected to appear in only one episode before producers reportedly expanded his role after filming.

Messer teased that Storrie’s character will become closely tied to the season’s central villain storyline. “Connor gets introduced in episode 4,” she explained, while declining to reveal additional details about the role.

The casting news further highlights the meteoric rise of both Storrie and Williams following the breakout success of Heated Rivalry, the hockey romance adaptation based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers novels. The series premiered in late 2025 before finding an even larger audience on HBO Max earlier this year.

Since the show’s release, both actors have become major rising stars, making high-profile appearances including their widely discussed joint Met Gala debut earlier this month.

Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered on Paramount+ on 28 May, with Storrie’s first episode expected to air on 11 June. The series has already been renewed for Season 20.