'Criminal Minds: Evolution' director Adam Rodriguez reveals why he fought to cast Connor Storrie

"I was like, ‘This guy is great,’” Rodriguez said, admitting there was some “pushback” before casting was finalised

Criminal Minds: Evolution star and director Adam Rodriguez has revealed he personally pushed to cast Heated Rivalry breakout actor Connor Storrie in the Paramount+ crime drama despite initial hesitation from others involved in the production.

Rodriguez explained that he became convinced Storrie was right for the role almost immediately after seeing his audition. “I was like, ‘This guy is great,’” Rodriguez said, admitting there was some “pushback” before the casting was finalised.

Rodriguez, who stars as Luke Alvez and also directed episodes this season, said Storrie ultimately impressed everyone once filming began. According to the actor-director, the young star brought an emotional intensity and natural screen presence that made him stand out within the ensemble cast.

Storrie will appear in four episodes during Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, despite originally being hired for only a single episode. Showrunner Erica Messer previously revealed that the production team expanded the role after seeing his performance on set.

The actor’s rapid rise has become one of television’s biggest breakout stories of 2026 following the success of hockey romance drama Heated Rivalry, where he stars as Ilya Rozanov opposite Hudson Williams. Since then, Storrie has landed multiple major projects, including upcoming films Turpentine and Peaked.

Rodriguez also hinted that Storrie’s character will become increasingly important as the season progresses, though he stopped short of revealing specific plot details. Fans have already begun speculating online about how the new character connects to Elias Voit and the BAU’s central investigation this season.

Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered on Paramount+ on 28 May and has already been renewed for Season 20 ahead of the latest instalment’s release.