‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Cast Teases Unexpected Energy Around Hudson Williams After Connor Storrie’s Arc

Fans of Criminal Minds: Evolution are already buzzing about the upcoming appearance of Heated Rivalry breakout star Connor Storrie, but the cast of the long-running Paramount+ procedural is taking the excitement in stride — while also jokingly stirring the pot about what could come next.

During a recent appearance at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, members of the ensemble cast discussed the show’s 19th season, which is currently airing and will soon introduce a multi-episode storyline featuring Storrie. While official details about his role remain tightly under wraps, it has already been confirmed that his character will debut in Episode 4 and evolve into a key figure tied to the season’s central antagonist.

But even before viewers have seen his first scene, attention has already shifted toward another name entirely: Hudson Williams, Storrie’s co-star from Heated Rivalry. And according to the Criminal Minds cast, the idea of Williams joining the series is already unofficially in motion — at least in their imaginations.

“I’m literally pitching him for my love interest”

Actress A.J. Cook, who plays Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, jokingly revealed that she is actively campaigning for Williams to appear in the series in a very specific capacity.

“I’m pitching him for my love interest, I’m literally starting to,” Cook said during an interview with DECIDER, laughing as she addressed the growing fan speculation.

Her comment immediately sparked playful reactions from her co-stars, who have clearly been paying attention to the online discourse connecting Heated Rivalry fans with the Criminal Minds universe. The idea of reuniting Williams and Storrie on-screen — this time in a completely different genre — has become a recurring talking point among both audiences and cast members.

While nothing official is in development, the enthusiasm behind the idea has clearly reached the set.

“We saw him before he was ‘that’ Connor Storrie”

Aisha Tyler, who portrays Dr. Tara Lewis, emphasized that the production team wants credit for recognizing Storrie’s talent long before his breakout role in Heated Rivalry brought him wider attention.

“He was not Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie when he was on the show — he was Criminal Minds’ Connor Storrie, thank you very much,” Tyler said with a smile.

She recalled early impressions from set, noting that even in brief interactions, it was clear he stood out.

“I’ve said this before, but Paget [Brewster] and I had a scene with him, and afterward we walked out into the hallway and just looked at each other like, ‘That kid is really good.’”

A missed table read moment that stuck with the cast

Paget Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss, added her own memory of Storrie’s early involvement, clarifying that she didn’t even get a direct scene with him during filming — something she jokingly still holds against showrunner Erica Messer.

“It was after the table read, and I was so mad I didn’t get any scenes with him,” Brewster said. “We just walked out and said, ‘What a fella.’”

These early impressions now feel even more significant given Storrie’s rising profile. What was once a small guest appearance is now transforming into a major storyline that could span multiple episodes and potentially reshape the direction of the season.

A mysterious role tied to the season’s “big bad”

Although specifics remain limited, showrunner Erica Messer has confirmed in multiple interviews that Storrie’s role was originally intended as a one-episode appearance. However, after early development, his character was expanded into a much larger arc connected to the season’s central antagonist.

His first appearance is scheduled for Episode 4 of the 10-episode season, with his storyline continuing into the latter half of the series.

Messer has also hinted that there is “something else going on with this guy,” teasing that viewers should expect unexpected layers to the character that won’t be immediately obvious.

This ambiguity has only intensified speculation among fans, who are already theorizing about hidden identities, shifting alliances, and possible connections to past storylines.

Hudson Williams enters the conversation

While Storrie’s on-screen arc is still under wraps, attention behind the scenes has shifted toward Hudson Williams, his Heated Rivalry co-star and on-screen partner in the hockey drama that first brought the pair into fan-favorite status.

The cast has openly acknowledged the fan demand to see Williams join the series as well — even if only in a playful, speculative sense.

Between interviews and festival panels, jokes about casting Williams have become increasingly common, with actors casually suggesting everything from guest roles to romantic subplots.

Cook’s tongue-in-cheek pitch for Williams to become her character’s love interest has only added fuel to the online discussion, turning what began as fan casting speculation into an inside joke shared by the cast itself.

A shared past that surprised the cast

What has fascinated the Criminal Minds team most is how quickly Storrie’s popularity has grown since filming his guest arc — something they witnessed long before audiences did.

Cook recalled speaking with him on set about hockey, unaware at first of his recent work on Heated Rivalry.

“He casually mentioned he had just finished a hockey project,” she said. “And I’m Canadian, so I got excited and started talking about hockey with him. I could tell he was like… ‘Not that kind of hockey.’”

She added with a laugh, “After I saw Heated Rivalry, I was like, I don’t know if I ever wanted to know Connor that well.”

A crossover fantasy fans can’t stop imagining

With Criminal Minds: Evolution continuing its 19th season on Paramount+, and Heated Rivalry building its own growing fanbase on HBO Max, viewers have begun blending the two universes in increasingly creative ways.

The idea of Williams and Storrie reuniting — whether in a procedural drama, romantic subplot, or entirely new series — has become a recurring fantasy across social media platforms.

While no official crossover exists, the cast’s playful engagement with the idea has only kept speculation alive.

Storrie’s arc begins soon

Connor Storrie’s storyline in Criminal Minds: Evolution will officially begin with Episode 4, premiering June 11. Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry continues streaming on HBO Max, where fans are still following the duo’s on-screen chemistry that sparked the current wave of crossover enthusiasm.

For now, Hudson Williams remains outside the BAU — but if the cast’s jokes are any indication, the door is far from closed.