Hudson Williams is entering a very different world after winning over audiences in Heated Rivalry. Instead of skating across the ice, the rising Canadian actor is stepping into a supernatural mystery where ancient folklore, disappearances, and dangerous secrets collide.

First-look images from the upcoming thriller Yaga have offered fans their best glimpse yet at Williams’ next major television role, revealing a dramatic transformation that couldn’t be further removed from the sports romance that launched him into the spotlight.

Created by playwright Kat Sandler, Yaga reimagines the legendary Slavic folklore figure Baba Yaga as the centerpiece of a contemporary mystery-thriller. Rather than retelling the centuries-old legend directly, the series blends detective fiction, horror, mythology, and psychological drama into a story that explores one central question: What truly makes a witch?

Williams plays Henry Park, the missing heir to one of the region’s most influential fishing dynasties. Although Henry disappears before the investigation begins, his absence becomes the catalyst for every mystery that follows, drawing a growing cast of characters into an increasingly dangerous web of secrets.

The role marks another significant step for Williams, whose popularity has soared since starring opposite Connor Storrie in Heated Rivalry. While that series introduced audiences to his emotional dramatic range, Yaga appears ready to showcase an entirely different side of the young actor.

The newly released promotional images certainly suggest a darker atmosphere.

One striking photograph shows Williams wearing a crisp white shirt while sporting unnerving bright-blue contact lenses that hint at supernatural forces surrounding his character. Another image captures an intimate moment between Williams and Carrie-Anne Moss, with their faces inches apart, teasing what appears to be one of the show’s most intriguing relationships.

Those photos immediately fueled speculation among fans about Henry’s true role in the story. Is he merely a missing victim, or could he be far more deeply connected to the ancient mythology that gives the series its title?

The series assembles an impressive Canadian cast led by Schitt’s Creek star Noah Reid.

Reid plays private investigator Rapp, who arrives in a small coastal town after Henry suddenly disappears. What initially appears to be a routine missing-person investigation quickly evolves into something far stranger, as Rapp discovers hidden rivalries, supernatural legends, and mysterious residents who all seem to know more than they’re willing to admit.

Working alongside—or perhaps against—Rapp is Carson, portrayed by Clark Backo. Carson serves as the town’s local detective, though early descriptions suggest she and Reid’s investigator frequently clash over both methods and theories as the investigation unfolds.

The growing tension between the outsider investigator and local law enforcement appears poised to become one of the series’ central dynamics.

Meanwhile, Carrie-Anne Moss takes on the role of Katherine, a charismatic university professor whose intelligence and mysterious charm immediately make her one of the town’s most fascinating figures.

While official plot details remain tightly guarded, early promotional material strongly hints that Katherine shares an especially complicated relationship with Henry.

Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive first-look images include an intimate scene between Moss and Williams, suggesting their connection extends far beyond academic curiosity.

Moss previously teased that she even shares romantic scenes with Williams during filming, affectionately describing her younger co-star as “a serious gentleman.”

That brief comment only heightened curiosity surrounding Katherine’s role in Henry’s disappearance and whether she may possess knowledge connected to the supernatural mythology underpinning the series.

Veteran actress Sheila McCarthy joins the ensemble as Olena Yaha, perhaps the character most directly connected to the folklore itself.

Olena is described as an eccentric local woman originally from Ukraine who enjoys vodka, hallucinogenic experiences, and younger men. Beneath her playful exterior, however, lies someone who may understand the town’s oldest secrets better than anyone else.

Given her surname and background, many viewers already suspect Olena could serve as the show’s living connection to the Baba Yaga legend.

Rather than presenting Baba Yaga exactly as traditional stories describe her, creator Kat Sandler has completely reinvented the mythology for modern audiences.

The original stage production of Yaga began as a much smaller theatrical experience before evolving into a television series with a far broader scope.

Speaking about the adaptation, Sandler explained that the project has transformed dramatically since its earliest version.

She revealed that Yaga originally featured only three actors performing inside a modest 200-seat theater, using mystery and myth to reinterpret the famous folklore character through a contemporary perspective.

Television, however, has allowed the story to become something significantly larger.

According to Sandler, the expanded series now combines elements of fairy tales, noir crime thrillers, police procedurals, horror, feminist fantasy, and supernatural folklore, creating a genre-blending experience unlike most current television dramas.

Despite its expansion, the series continues exploring the same question that inspired the original play: what truly defines someone as a witch?

That thematic focus appears likely to separate Yaga from traditional supernatural series.

Rather than emphasizing monsters or magical battles, the show seems more interested in examining power, perception, mythology, and the labels society places upon women throughout history.

It’s an ambitious premise that attracted an equally ambitious cast.

Sandler couldn’t hide her excitement while discussing the performers bringing her characters to life, famously describing the ensemble as having a “Canadian Avengers-level” lineup.

Given the resumes involved—including Matrix icon Carrie-Anne Moss, Schitt’s Creek favorite Noah Reid, Letterkenny alum Clark Backo, veteran actress Sheila McCarthy, and rapidly rising star Hudson Williams—that description may not be far from reality.

Williams, in particular, enters the project at an especially interesting point in his career.

His breakout success in Heated Rivalry established him as one of Canada’s fastest-rising young actors, earning widespread attention from television audiences.

Instead of following that success with another romance or sports drama, however, Williams has chosen something considerably darker and more unconventional.

Playing Henry Park offers him an opportunity to headline a mystery where much of the character’s presence comes through the impact his disappearance has on everyone around him.

It’s a challenging role because audiences will likely spend much of the series trying to understand who Henry really was before he vanished—and whether he’s truly a victim at all.

The visual style showcased in the first promotional images also suggests Yaga will lean heavily into atmosphere.

Moody forests, isolated coastal settings, mysterious lighting, and supernatural symbolism all appear prominently throughout the early marketing materials.

Combined with its detective story and folklore influences, the series looks positioned somewhere between psychological thriller and gothic fantasy.

Adding to the anticipation is its upcoming presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where additional footage and behind-the-scenes details are expected to be unveiled.

That event should provide fans with a better understanding of the show’s mythology, characters, and overall tone before its eventual premiere.

Yaga will debut first on Canadian streaming service Crave before becoming available in the United States through AMC+, introducing international audiences to Sandler’s ambitious reimagining of one of Eastern Europe’s most enduring legends.

Although an exact premiere date has yet to be announced beyond a planned fall release, excitement continues building as more details emerge.

For Hudson Williams, Yaga represents far more than simply another television credit.

It’s an opportunity to prove that his breakout performance in Heated Rivalry was only the beginning of a versatile career capable of spanning romance, mystery, horror, and psychological drama.

Whether Henry Park ultimately turns out to be victim, suspect, supernatural force, or something far more complicated remains one of the series’ biggest mysteries.

Based on the haunting first-look images, however, audiences can expect one thing for certain: Williams’ next chapter promises to be every bit as compelling—and considerably more mysterious—than the one that made him a star.