Hudson Williams struggled to find his way back to Shane Hollander in 'Heated Rivalry' season 2

Hudson Williams has opened up about the challenge of returning to his Heated Rivalry character Shane Hollander for the highly anticipated second season.

Speaking during a Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival, Williams said he and co-star Connor Storrie felt “possibly overconfident” when they returned to play hockey rivals Shane and Ilya Rosanov. However, their confidence quickly disappeared after their first days back on set.

After filming his first scene, Williams recalled wondering, “Am I doing a Shane impression?” He said he felt as though he was losing the character he had previously inhabited.

Williams explained that the cultural impact of the first season had changed how he and Storrie remembered their original performances. Rather than simply remembering making the scenes, they were now aware of how the finished episodes had been received, along with fan reactions and edits of their on-screen chemistry.

“It’s weird that our memory of playing season one isn’t just our true memory of showing up and doing the scenes,” Williams said. “Our memory isn’t ours, it’s everyone’s.”

The actor credited showrunner Jacob Tierney with helping him and Storrie settle back into their roles. Williams said Tierney made the set feel as small and familiar as it had during the first season, with the same crew returning for the second instalment.

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry began filming in the Toronto area last month. The first season became a breakout success, generating widespread discussion around its story of two hockey players navigating their relationship, expectations and sexuality.

Williams also discussed his approach to acting, saying he balances research and preparation with a willingness to experiment in front of the camera. He credited making independent short films before Heated Rivalry with helping him remain relaxed during auditions.

The actor is also appearing at TIFF for his new series YAGA, which stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Clark Backo. The modern retelling of the Baba Yaga myth is set on Canada's west coast and is scheduled to arrive on Crave next month.