A leading actor from the hit HBO Max series Heated Rivalry has lifted the lid on a substantial continuity error that forced production bosses into a last-minute scramble to fix the show's timeline. François Arnaud, who plays closeted gay hockey player Scott Hunter, revealed the blunder occurred during the editing of the season one finale.
The Timeline Trouble Explained
During an interview on SiriusXM’s Smith Sisters Live, the 40-year-old Canadian actor explained the issue stemmed from a discrepancy between the original source material and the series adaptation. The show is based on Rachel Reid's novel of the same name, but the screen version expanded the storyline across several years, whereas the book's central events unfold over just a few months.
Arnaud confessed, "I've already spoiled that before... It's because in the book, and also in the way that we shot it, there was a f**k up in the timeline. We shot it thinking it was six months... and now it's three years." This miscalculation became glaringly obvious in a key scene from episode six.
The actor recalled a specific line from an award acceptance speech where his character stated, "Fear is a powerful thing, but this year I found the one thing that is more powerful." With the altered timeline spanning three years, the phrase "this year" no longer made sense and had to be changed in post-production. Arnaud confirmed the edit was successful, noting, "I watched it and it works."
Fan Shock Over Actor's Real Age
The revelation about the production hiccup comes as viewers of the drama have expressed widespread surprise upon discovering François Arnaud's real age. In the series, his character Scott Hunter is in his mid-twenties, but the actor is actually 40.
Fans took to social media platform X to share their disbelief. One user wrote, "No way Francois Arnaud is 40 years old... he looks 30 years old MAX. I need his skincare routine." Another added, "Tfym François Arnaud is 40. Girl, I thought he was like 31." The sentiment was echoed by many, with comments praising his youthful appearance.
Arnaud's career began with a breakout role in the 2011 historical drama The Borgias. He has since appeared in Blindspot, Midnight, Texas, Schitt's Creek, and more recently, Yellowjackets and Quantum Leap.
A Steamy Hit Finds Its UK Audience
Heated Rivalry, which first launched on HBO Max in Canada in November last year, finally arrived for UK audiences this month. The series is available to stream on Sky and its sister service, NOW.
The drama centres on the secret romantic relationship between two closeted gay ice hockey players, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), as they navigate the hyper-masculine world of professional sport. Arnaud's character, Scott Hunter—the American captain of the New York Admirals—provides a parallel storyline exploring similar themes of love and identity.
Since its release, the show has quickly climbed must-watch lists, captivating audiences with its blend of high-stakes sports drama and intimate romance. The production team's swift action to correct the timeline error ensured the series' complex narrative remained coherent for its growing fanbase.
