EXCLUSIVE: The Heated Rivalry signing spree continues, as Deadline has learned that Impression Entertainment has signed François Arnaud, another of the stars of the breakout hit series from Crave/HBO Max.
For the few still unaware, Heated Rivalry is an adaptation of the novels by Rachel Reid which broke out as a cultural phenomenon when it made its way to HBO Max in select territories after debuting on Crave in November 2025. Created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney, the show centers on two fiercely competitive NHL superstars — Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) — who begin a secret, years-long enemies-with-benefits affair that slowly evolves into an all-consuming love neither of them is prepared to face.
Arnaud plays Scott Hunter, the American hockey player who serves as captain of the New York Admirals. Others in the cast of the show, which has already been renewed for a second season, include Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Dylan Walsh.
Arnaud’s next film Abril, directed by Hernan Jimenez, is set to premiere next month at the 41st Santa Barbara Film Festival. He will also be seen coming up in Annapurna Sriram’s Fucktoys, which received the Special Jury Award in Narrative Feature Competition at last year’s SXSW Film Festival.
Last year, Arnaud appeared in Sundance breakout Twinless, opposite Dylan O’Brien, Chris Perfetti, and Lauren Graham. Trained at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, he was first seen in Xavier Dolan’s Cannes prize winner I Killed My Mother, then rose to international prominence as Cesare Borgia in the show The Borgias. He’s since appeared in Schitt’s Creek, Blindspot, Midnight, Texas, Marlowe, UnReal, Yellowjackets, and more.
Founded by industry veterans Michael Baum and Jill Littman, Impression Entertainment also reps Édgar Ramírez, Antony Starr, Reid Scott, and María Gabriela De Faría, to name just a few.
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