Connor Storrie Thought ‘Heated Rivalry’ Book Fans Would ‘Hate My Performance’ and He’d Get ‘Torn Apart’ Before Show Became a Hit

Before “Heated Rivalry” quickly became a global television phenomenon, star Connor Storrie wasn’t quite sure how fans would receive his portrayal of the Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov — especially having seen “adaptations be torn apart online previously,” he said on a recent podcast episode of “Shut Up Evan” hosted by Evan Ross Katz.

“I’m very optimistic, but I’m also a firm believer in optimistic nihilism: accept the worst, but expect the best,” Storrie continued. “I went through this entire process, even if it sounds pessimistic, accepting the worst case, which is that they’re going to hate my performance,…