Saturday, 21 February 2026

Hilary Duff Steals the Show in Dress Held up by 2 Strings at Release Party

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

Hilary Duff Steals the Show in Dress Held up by 2 Strings at Release PartyChhavi PuriSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:13 AM UTC 0 Photo Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA Hilary Duff stole the spotlight in a butter yellow dress held up by two delicate strings, proving once again that effortless glamor is her signature. The singer was the star of the release party for her new album, "Luck… or Something," on February 20. She wore a sleek slip dress featuring spaghetti straps and a formfitting silhouette that highlighted her figure, making the look both elegant and modern.

Hilary Duff Steals the Show in Dress Held up by 2 Strings at Release PartyChhavi PuriSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:13 AM UTC

Photo Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA

Hilary Duff stole the spotlight in a butter yellow dress held up by two delicate strings, proving once again that effortless glamor is her signature. The singer was the star of the release party for her new album, "Luck… or Something," on February 20.

She wore a sleek slip dress featuring spaghetti straps and a form-fitting silhouette that highlighted her figure, making the look both elegant and modern.

Hilary Duff wows in slip dress held up by just 2 strings at album release party

Check out Hilary Duff's slip dress held up by just two strings at the album release party:

At the release party of her sixth studio album, the "Come Clean" hitmaker rocked a butter yellow slip dress. The floor-length gown was held up by only two delicate strings, lending a captivating sense of allure to the ensemble.

Meanwhile, the form-fitting silhouette, low-cut neckline, and subtle pleats at the hips made the minimalist outfit stand out. She let the dress do all the talking and kept it simple with just a pair of earrings. The video also captured her layering the dress with a brown leather jacket, adding a touch of edge to the otherwise sleek ensemble.

The post Hilary Duff Steals the Show in Dress Held up by 2 Strings at Release Party appeared first on Reality Tea.

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Source: Entertainment

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:45PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

NYC Surgical Resident Determined to Use Balloon Art to Pay Back Over $400K in Student Loans (Exclusive)

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

NYC Surgical Resident Determined to Use Balloon Art to Pay Back Over $400K in Student Loans (Exclusive) Tereza ShkurtajSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM UTC 0 Brandon Axelrod. Brandon Axelrod A New York City surgical resident with $400,000 in student loans is turning his childhood talent for balloon art into an online side hustle Brandon Axelrod began sharing his creations online in January 2026 during his limited free time While it won't pay off his debt overnight, the 27yearold enjoys that it has become both a supplemental income and a creative outlet amid the "grueling" demands of residenc...

NYC Surgical Resident Determined to Use Balloon Art to Pay Back Over $400K in Student Loans (Exclusive)

Tereza ShkurtajSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM UTC

Brandon Axelrod.

Brandon Axelrod

A New York City surgical resident with $400,000 in student loans is turning his childhood talent for balloon art into an online side hustle

Brandon Axelrod began sharing his creations online in January 2026 during his limited free time

While it won't pay off his debt overnight, the 27-year-old enjoys that it has become both a supplemental income and a creative outlet amid the "grueling" demands of residency

Most surgical residents spend their rare free hours sleeping, studying or calculating how long it will take to chip away at their debt. Brandon Axelrod, however, uses his little spare time twisting balloons into pirates, pop stars and even medical instruments.

With $400,000 in student loans and three-and-a-half years of residency left, the 27-year-old figured he might as well put his childhood talent to use and see if it could do more than just entertain. If he's going to be buried in nearly half a million dollars of debt, he might as well have some fun digging himself out. "So much of my positive support is from other healthcare professionals commending me for staying true to my passions," Axelrod tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Long before scalpels and operating rooms, Axelrod was dealing with card tricks and coin illusions. "I started with magic, as most do, around 5 years old. Small-scale, impromptu and low budget tricks were the name of the game," he recalls.

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By age 8, Axelrod had persuaded his parents to enroll him in formal lessons at a small magic shop on Long Island. He took it seriously, studying not just tricks but the discipline and psychology behind becoming a true magician. Soon he was performing at events, building both skill and confidence.

Balloon art entered the picture around age 10, when Axelrod, once again, convinced his parents to let him expand his repertoire. He started off with dogs, swords, and flowers until one pivotal moment during a live performance. "I remember the first time someone had asked me for a monkey during a live performance, and I remember the feeling of telling them 'I don't know how', " he says. "That must have been the motivating factor I needed to begin pushing the boundaries of what I thought was possible with balloon twisting."

From that point forward, he promised himself he would never decline a request again.

Young Brandon Axelrod.

Brandon Axelrod

That promise turned into years of deliberate practice and increasingly complex creations, from Buzz Lightyear to Elmo to aliens to Bluey, as Axelrod's weekends became filled with birthday parties, block parties and religious celebrations.

By the time he was attending dental school on Long Island, Axelrod was well known across Nassau and Suffolk counties and could book events without much advertising. Now, as an Oral and Maxillofacial surgical resident in Manhattan, the pace is different.

Brandon Axelrod's balloon art of lidocaine syringe.

Brandon Axelrod

Although residents are paid, the salary stretches thin against rent, food, and daily expenses in one of the most expensive cities in the country — especially when loans approach $400,000. Axelrod's grueling schedule makes booking weekend gigs nearly impossible.

Still, he saw another route. "I was well aware that social media is an established method of supplemental income through monetization," he shares. Instead of party bookings, he pivoted to viral videos, monetizing through social platforms "with hopes of landing the right brand deals."

Brandon Axelrod's balloon art of olympic skier.

Brandon Axelrod

The early results have surprised even him, especially after earning around $700 in just three weeks and gaining over 75,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram since his first video on Jan. 23.

Axelrod does admit, however, that production for his balloon art isn't cheap. "My materials are expensive since the highest quality is needed to accommodate the demanding designs," he explains.

Intricate sculptures put balloons under serious stress, and certain specialty items are already running low. Still, he's working largely from a stockpile built over years of performing.

Brandon Axelrod's balloon art of Bad Bunny.

Brandon Axelrod

Over time, Axelrod's creations have also grown more ambitious and now include life-size figures that take one to two hours to complete. "My favorite piece to date is my life-size pirate and life-size Bad Bunny," he reveals. Recently, he merged his medical world with his artistic one, crafting a five-foot-long lidocaine syringe as a gift for his attending surgeon.

When asked how long he thinks it will take to wipe out his $400,000 in student loans, Axelrod says he is unsure — but he's hoping that continued growth and aligned brand deals will accelerate the process.

For now, the balloon artist and surgeon sees the project as both financial strategy and emotional lifeline. His advice to fellow residents is practical and personal. "Live below your means. Begin working with wealth managers and companies early who have experience working with healthcare professionals," Axelrod tells PEOPLE in regard to managing debt. "Also, I love the idea of residents keeping up with their longstanding hobbies during their training in any capacity that they can."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Source: Entertainment

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:45PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

5 Bombshells from “Being Gordon Ramsay”, from His 'Torrid' Relationship with His Father to His Brother's Substance Issues

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

5 Bombshells from "Being Gordon Ramsay", from His &x27;Torrid&x27; Relationship with His Father to His Brother&x27;s Substance Issues Alyssa ModosSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM UTC 0 Gordon Ramsay in Being Gordon Ramsay. Courtesy of Netflix Gordon Ramsay's new docuseries, Being Gordon Ramsay, documents the chef as he opens his fiverestaurant empire The series also follows his home life with his wife, Tana Ramsay, and their six children In the show, Gordon opens up about his "torrid relationship" with his father and his brother's substance abuse issues Gordon Ramsay isn't slowing down anyti...

5 Bombshells from "Being Gordon Ramsay", from His 'Torrid' Relationship with His Father to His Brother's Substance Issues

Alyssa ModosSat, February 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM UTC

Gordon Ramsay in Being Gordon Ramsay.

Courtesy of Netflix

Gordon Ramsay's new docuseries, Being Gordon Ramsay, documents the chef as he opens his five-restaurant empire

The series also follows his home life with his wife, Tana Ramsay, and their six children

In the show, Gordon opens up about his "torrid relationship" with his father and his brother's substance abuse issues

Gordon Ramsay isn't slowing down anytime soon.

In February 2025, Gordon launched his sky-high five-restaurant empire in London's 22 Bishopsgate building. The project was the most complex undertaking he's ever pursued, and it's an achievement he called "a dream come true."

"Building this beautiful space has been an ambitious project, but that's exactly what makes Gordon Ramsay Restaurants so special—we never stop pushing boundaries," he told Marie Claire UK in February 2025. "I couldn't be more excited to open three of our most iconic restaurants, all reimagined, taken to new heights, and built under one roof, it's a dream come true and a major milestone for our business."

The venture was documented by Netflix film crew for his docuseries Being Gordon Ramsay, which premiered on Feb. 18. It also shows Gordon at home with wife Tana Ramsay and their six children.

"I wanted to show the other side, the other half of me and I don't think that's been done properly," he told PEOPLE ahead of the premiere. "And so it wasn't sanitized and set up where it looked slightly, 'Oh God, this is boring.' It was real, and not many people have seen me in my pajamas."

Here's everything to know about the biggest bombshells from Being Gordon Ramsay.

Warning: Being Gordon Ramsay spoilers ahead!

01 of 05

Gordon's father never supported his chef ambitions and thought cooking "wasn't a man's job"

Tilly Ramsay & Gordon Ramsay in Being Gordon Ramsay.

Courtesy of Netflix

In the premiere of the docuseries, Gordon spoke about his rocky relationship with his late father, Gordon James Sr., who was an alcoholic.

"I had to sit there, you know, at weekends and almost watch him ruin his life through alcohol," he said. "It's hard, when someone's an alcoholic, it's very hard to relate to that, 'cause you're just ... you're nervous."

Gordon's dad also never supported his career as a chef, as he believed "cooking was for women and it wasn't a man's job."

"My father called me a snob once. And I said, 'No, definitely not a snob. I just wanna get out of the s--- mess I was born in,' " Gordon said. "I sadly had a torrid relationship with my father."

A father of six himself, Gordon said that his experience with his father helps him relate to his own kids. "In many ways, I'm using that awful relationship [with my father] to become a better dad," he said.

The celebrity chef had previously opened up to PEOPLE about his strained relationship with his late father in a 2023 cover story.

02 of 05

Gordon's brother, Ronnie, has struggled with heroin addiction

Ronald Ramsay on August 30, 2007 in Bali, Indonesia.

Dimas Ardian/Getty

In the docuseries, Gordon revealed that his father isn't his only family member who struggled with substance abuse. He shared that his younger brother, Ronnie, has been a "heroin addict" for 40 years.

The dichotomy of their lives is something that weighs heavily on Gordon's conscience.

"I have a brother who's a heroin addict," he said. "We shared a bunk bed together. He's 15 months younger than me, and he's been an addict for the last four decades."

The chef continued, "I've gone to hell and back with him, and so I have a guilt complex. That could have been me. It could have been switched ... Born in the same house, grew up in the same bedroom, shared bunk beds, and so similar ... but how can it be so different now?"

However, his family's struggles motivate Gordon to succeed even more.

"I'm not embarrassed of my past. I got dealt a dysfunctional card. Big f---ing deal," he said. "So that drives me, that puts fuel in my tank because I was so close to not making it."

03 of 05

He prefers food influencers to food critics

Gordon Ramsay attends Esquire "Men Of The Year" Awards on December 10, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Pablo Cuadra/Getty

A surprising revelation from the chef-turned-entrepreneur is that he has a disdain for food critics, which is informed by his personal experience with them. During the premiere episode, Gordon spoke of his decision to invite food influencers — and no food critics — to an exclusive teaser event ahead of his five-restaurant launch in London

"It was just to f--- every food critic off in the country," he began. "Because 10 years ago, we were depending on their pens. Ten years ago, we were depending on their insults. Ten years ago, we were depending on their egos. And they destroyed restaurants."

Gordon also shared a personal experience he and his wife, Tana, had with one critic in particular. He explained, "When we first started dating, we were excited for a family within the first two years. And there was a piece in one of the newspapers, 'The failed footballer that had a shotgun wedding.' And it caused such hurt amongst us, because it was like, 'How does that relate to food?' "

The chef added, "Critics are important, okay? And constructive criticism is something that we thrive on. But when it becomes personal ... one of the most prolific critics just had a brutal personal vendetta."

Gordon emphasized that he does have a deep respect for influencers, saying, "They're very powerful ... When they post, it goes viral, and it's gone in seconds to the other end of the world. They are the most powerful critics on the planet today."

04 of 05

He got in shape after his father's heart attack

Gordon Ramsay during the 2025 Ironman 70.3 Costa Navarino on October 26, 2025 in Pylos, Greece.

Jan Hetfleisch/Getty

Although he's extraordinarily busy with his global restaurant and television empire, Gordon is passionate about finding time for fitness in his life, including surfing, biking and running.

"Exercise, for me, is crucial," he shared during the docuseries' third episode. "Fitness keeps you, you know, intact. I do get to eat what the f--- I want, because I train. I don't have to watch my diet. I don't have to watch my cholesterol. I'm not overweight. I'm in shape. I'm in f---ing good shape, and I'm strong."

He explained that both the food industry and his family history are driving motivators for his dedication to staying fit.

"This f---ing industry can absolutely take you down if you don't look after yourself," Gordon said. "I got out of shape once because it just all got too f---ing much. And so I got warned. I was 35 or 34. You know, 'Start taking care of yourself.' And then my father died of a heart attack, literally six months later at 53. So, that scared the s--- out of me, I think, really, more than anything."

05 of 05

Gordon teased a new project in New York City

Tana Ramsay & Gordon Ramsay in Being Gordon Ramsay.

Courtesy of Netflix

In the final minutes of the six-episode docuseries, Gordon dropped a bombshell on his wife — and on viewers of the show.

During a conversation with her husband, Tana said she was happy that he took on such a massive endeavor — which Gordon took as a sign that he could spring the next project on her.

"What have you got up your sleeve?" Tana asked suspiciously.

After chuckling, Gordon admitted, "There is ... there is something in New York that has just come on the radar." He quickly added, "You love New York, right? We love New York. It was a special place for us when we went there New Year's Eve."

"Come on," Tana responded, trying to get her husband to spill the beans. "TBC," Gordon replied before the credits rolled.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Source: Entertainment

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:45PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Ian McKellen doesn't 'quite get' Hamnet

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

The legendary actor, who got his start in productions of Shakespeare's plays, thinks something doesn't add up about Chloe Zhao's spin on the Bard's origins. Ian McKellen doesn't 'quite get' Hamnet The legendary actor, who got his start in productions of Shakespeare's plays, thinks something doesn't add up about Chloe Zhao's spin on the Bard's origins. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.jpg) Ryan Coleman Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

The legendary actor, who got his start in productions of Shakespeare's plays, thinks something doesn't add up about Chloe Zhao's spin on the Bard's origins.

Ian McKellen doesn't 'quite get' Hamnet

The legendary actor, who got his start in productions of Shakespeare's plays, thinks something doesn't add up about Chloe Zhao's spin on the Bard's origins.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman author photo

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 12:50 a.m. ET

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen in London in 2022. Credit:

- Ian McKellen disagrees with several aspects of the film *Hamnet*, based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell, which concerns itself with the life of William Shakespeare.

- "I don't quite get it," McKellen told *The Times*. "I'm not very interested in trying to work out where Shakespeare's imagination came from, but it certainly didn't just come from family life."

- McKellen got his start performing in plays like 'Richard II' and 'King Lear' with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London.

Ian McKellen can speed through *Richard III *— no problem. He's also played King Lear *and *the Danish prince. But Chloe Zhao's *Hamnet*, which imagines the creative origins of William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*? Something's not clicking.

"I don't quite get it," the Tony and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor confessed on Saturday in an interview with *The Times*. "I'm not very interested in trying to work out where Shakespeare's imagination came from, but it certainly didn't just come from family life," he explained.

Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in director

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in 'Hamnet'.

Agata Grzybowska/FOCUS FEATURES

Adapted from the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell, *Hamnet *dramatizes an important event in the life of William Shakespeare: the death of his son Hamnet at age 11. The book and O'Farrell and Zhao's screenplay propose that this event inspired the Bard's creation of one of literature's greatest tragedies, *Hamlet*.

O'Farrell didn't spin the notion out of whole cloth; rather, it descends from a long and fractious scholarly debate that acknowledges the fundamentals — Hamnet's burial in 1596 and *Hamlet*'s first staging four years later — but has never been able to reconcile their relationship to one another.

Ian McKellen says Magneto 'destroys' New Jersey in 'Avengers: Doomsday'

Ian McKellen as Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Paul Mescal is a grieving William Shakespeare in 'Hamnet' trailer

Paul Mescal stars as William Shakespeare in director Chloé Zhao's HAMNET

McKellen owes much of his early career success to performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company out of London's Royal National Theatre. Now, he adds his authoritative voice to that debate.

"As *Hamnet* races towards the finishing line, as far as Oscars are concerned, it's likely to repeat the success of *Shakespeare in Love*, which had odd views as to how plays get put on," he said. "But then Shakespeare's perhaps the most famous person who ever lived, so of course there is some interest in what he looked like, what his relationship with his family was. And we can't know."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

Still, there are several aspects of *Hamnet *that McKellen can't abide. First, that theater was somehow foreign to Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, who was sometimes called Agnes, as she is in *Hamnet*.

"The idea Anne Hathaway has never seen a play before? It's improbable, considering what her husband did for a living. And she doesn't seem to know what a play is! I think there are a few doubts of probability," McKellen said.

*Hamnet* stars Jessie Buckley as Agnes and Paul Mescal as Shakespeare, and also features Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, and Noah Jupe. Buckley, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama, is in contention for Best Actress at the Oscars, where the film is also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and more.

McKellen returns as the X-Men's Magneto in *Avengers: Doomsday* in December, and, in 2027, *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum* sees the actor's wise wizard Gandalf rematerialize.**

- Period Dramas

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Period"

Source: Period

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:38PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Lee Cronin's The Mummy trades Tom Cruise-era action for sheer terror — preview the frightening ne...

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

The twisted reimagining is helmed by the director of 2023's &34;Evil Dead Rise.&34; Lee Cronin's The Mummy trades Tom Cruiseera action for sheer terror — preview the frightening new trailer The twisted reimagining is helmed by the director of 2023's &34;Evil Dead Rise.&34; By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine. EW's editorial guidelines on February 18, 2026 2:11 p.m.

The twisted reimagining is helmed by the director of 2023's "Evil Dead Rise."

Lee Cronin's The Mummy trades Tom Cruise-era action for sheer terror — preview the frightening new trailer

The twisted reimagining is helmed by the director of 2023's "Evil Dead Rise."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell author photo

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

EW's editorial guidelines

on February 18, 2026 2:11 p.m. ET

Game of Thrones stage prequel will chronicle the Mad King and final years before start of books

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

The story of King Aerys II Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion is coming to life. Game of Thrones stage prequel will chronicle the Mad King and final years before start of books The story of King Aerys II Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion is coming to life. By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more. EW's editorial guidelines February 18, 2026 2:11 p.m.

The story of King Aerys II Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion is coming to life.

Game of Thrones stage prequel will chronicle the Mad King and final years before start of books

The story of King Aerys II Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion is coming to life.

By Nick Romano

Nicholas Romano author photo

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 2:11 p.m. ET

What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles

Manuel Mongo February 21, 2026

The world has been ready to learn what's next for Williams and Storrie following their starring roles on the queer hockey hit. What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles The world has been ready to learn what's next for Williams and Storrie following their starring roles on the queer hockey hit. By Mekishana Pierre :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/MekishanaPierreauthorphotoed08906b8105488ca1e991de8ac00dec.jpg) Mekishana Pierre Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2025.

The world has been ready to learn what's next for Williams and Storrie following their starring roles on the queer hockey hit.

What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles

The world has been ready to learn what's next for Williams and Storrie following their starring roles on the queer hockey hit.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre author photo

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 3:52 p.m. ET

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams in 2025

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams in 2025. Credit:

Harold Feng/Getty

Look out, world! *Heated Rivalry* stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have landed their next roles following their breakout turns on the Crave queer hockey drama that became a viral sensation after the show's premiere on HBO Max late last year.

The Canadian-born Williams is teaming up with Crave once again. On Tuesday, the network revealed that the 25-year-old will star in its half-hour drama series *Yaga*, which focuses on the myth of Baba Yaga, a female character from Slavic folklore who is depicted as a witch.

The series is an adaptation of a play by Kat Sandler, who will serve as writer and showrunner on the eight-episode series, and also features *The Matrix* star Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid (*Schitt's Creek*), and Clark Backo (*Letterkenny*).

Per the synopsis, the drama follows Rapp (Reid), a private investigator who arrives in a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Williams). The investigator finds himself at odds with an apprehensive local detective, Carson (Backo); a charismatic university professor with a taste for younger men, Katherine (Moss); and "a labyrinth of enigmatic suspects, secret lives, and ancient magic."

Hudson Williams in 2026

Hudson Williams in 2026.

Noam Galai/Getty

While *Yaga *is the first new role for Williams post-*Heated Rivalry*, the actor revealed in a November interview that he had recently booked a role on Netflix's upcoming limited series *The* *Altruists. *Written by Graham Moore, the series stars Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle, and tells the story of Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, two hyper-smart, ambitious young idealists who tried to remake the global financial system in the blink of an eye — and then seduced, coaxed, and teased each other into stealing $8 billion.

Williams also shared that he was filming and directing three short films with plans to release sometime in the future.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Storrie is heading back to his comedy roots with a role in A24's upcoming comedy *Peaked.*

The Texan is in talks to join the star-studded cast, which includes Molly Gordon, Allie Levitan, Laura Dern, Simone Ashley, Levon Hawke, Mitra Jouhari, and Gabby Windey, according to Deadline. While Storrie's potential role hasn't been revealed, the film is set to begin production this month.

Written by Levitan and Gordon, who will also direct, the film is said to follow "the two girls who traumatized you in high school as they try to relive their glory days at their 10-year reunion." A24 will finance the project and produce alongside David Hinojosa, Zach Nutman and Gordon, with Levitan executive-producing.

The news of Storrie's potential role comes soon after it was announced the *Joker: Folie à Deux *actor will make his *Saturday Night Live* hosting debut on Feb. 28. He'll be joined by musical guest Mumford & Sons, who are old pros by now after three previous stints on the Studio 8H stage.

Connor Storrie at the 2026 Golden Globes

Connor Storrie at the 2026 Golden Globes.

Maya Dehlin Spach/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty

No word yet on whether Williams is lined up for a cameo during his costar's debut, but* SNL* alum Jimmy Fallon has already vouched for him to host, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he did. Either way, seeing the pair together after their stint as torchbearers for the Olympic torch relay would be a sweet treat for *Heated Rivalry* fans who have a bit of a wait for the second season of the provocative Canadian drama.

It's been a whirlwind for Williams and Storrie since *Heated Rivalry* premiered in November with the duo playing the star-crossed, puck-smashing Shane and Ilya, respectively, rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love).

Daniel Radcliffe says Finn Wolfhard warned him about 'Harry Potter' spoof on 'SNL'

Daniel Radcliffe Finn Wolfhard

'Heated Rivalry' creator teases important season 2 casting, 'diversions' to other characters

Jacob Tierney attends the premiere of "Heated Rivalry" at TIFF Lightbox on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 106 of Heated Rivalry.

The previously unknown actors found themselves mucking it up at the Golden Globes, being parodied on *SNL*, and more thanks to the fervent response from viewers. Fallon even told ** that Williams' appearance on *The Tonight Show* resulted in "one of the hottest audiences we've ever had."

Season 2 will adapt author Rachel Reid's *The Long Game*, the sixth book in Reid's ever-expanding *Game Changers* series. *The Long Game* picks up roughly three years after the events of *Heated Rivalry* and finds Shane and Ilya still dating in secret. Between Ilya's wavering mental health and Shane's intensified anxiety about being discovered, the pair struggle to contend with longing for family and belonging, as well as the fear of losing everything.

"It's time for them to decide what's most important — hockey or love," reads a synopsis.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie on 'Heated Rivalry'

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

A season 2 premiere date has yet to be announced, but creator Jacob Tierney told EW in December that he doesn't plan for the wait to exceed 18 months.

"It will not be same time next year, but it'll be pretty soon after that," he said. "It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can."

A safe bet, based on these remarks, is a spring 2027 release.**

- TV Development

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

Source: TV

Published: February 21, 2026 at 12:38PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

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Saturday, 21 February 2026

Hilary Duff Steals the Show in Dress Held up by 2 Strings at Release Party

NYC Surgical Resident Determined to Use Balloon Art to Pay Back Over $400K in Student Loans (Exclusive)

5 Bombshells from “Being Gordon Ramsay”, from His 'Torrid' Relationship with His Father to His Brother's Substance Issues

Ian McKellen doesn't 'quite get' Hamnet

Ian McKellen doesn't 'quite get' Hamnet

Lee Cronin's The Mummy trades Tom Cruise-era action for sheer terror — preview the frightening ne...

Lee Cronin's The Mummy trades Tom Cruise-era action for sheer terror — preview the frightening new trailer

Game of Thrones stage prequel will chronicle the Mad King and final years before start of books

Game of Thrones stage prequel will chronicle the Mad King and final years before start of books

What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles

What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles

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