'April X' director knew Connor Storrie would be ‘a movie star’ even before 'Heated Rivalry'

April X director Michel K. Parandi has revealed that he knew Connor Storrie was destined for stardom long before the actor became a breakout sensation in Heated Rivalry.

Speaking to Variety, Parandi recalled casting Storrie in the psychological sci-fi thriller and immediately recognising something special in the young actor. “He's going to be a movie star,” the filmmaker remembered telling those around him after seeing Storrie's performance.

Storrie stars opposite Lilly Krug in April X, which follows twins Bax and April in a dystopian, post-Soviet landscape. When April disappears, Bax embarks on a desperate search that gradually sends him spiralling into madness. The film is set to open this year's Raindance Film Festival in London before receiving a theatrical release later in 2026.

According to Parandi, Storrie's talent and screen presence stood out from the beginning, well before the actor's profile exploded thanks to his acclaimed portrayal of hockey star Ilya Rozanov in the hit romance series Heated Rivalry. The filmmaker said he always believed audiences would eventually discover what he had seen in the actor during production.

Since Heated Rivalry became a cultural phenomenon, Storrie has emerged as one of television's fastest-rising stars, earning widespread praise and several major award nominations. His newfound fame has also brought renewed attention to April X, which Parandi describes as an ambitious psychological thriller blending science fiction with themes of obsession and identity.

Parandi, who wrote and directed the film, said he was thrilled to see Storrie's success arrive on such a large scale, adding that the actor's breakthrough had only confirmed what he had believed from the start.

With April X preparing for its festival debut and Storrie's star continuing to rise, Parandi's prediction that the actor would become “a movie star” appears to be coming true.