François Arnaud, the acclaimed actor known for Schitt’s Creek and Heated Rivalry, has revealed that his former management team advised him against joining the breakout queer hockey drama, saying they didn’t see the value in the project before it became a global cultural sensation.

The actor shared his candid account of the early stages of his involvement during a recent appearance on CBS Mornings, explaining how critical his belief in the show was to its success.

Arnaud, who portrays the emotionally complex character Scott Hunter in the Crave series, said his previous managers “refused to read it” when the script first came his way.

That refusal, he explained, was rooted in their belief that taking a chance on what they dismissed as a “random miniseries abroad” would hinder his ability to land larger projects. “We can’t pitch you for big things if you’re gonna be doing a random miniseries abroad,” he quoted them as saying.

Despite that skepticism, Arnaud’s conviction about the project never wavered. He told host Gayle King that from the moment he read the material, he thought Heated Rivalry “would find an audience”, a prediction that proved true as the series became a beloved part of the cultural conversation and one of the most talked-about shows of its release season.

Reflecting on that period, Arnaud confirmed that he is now working with a different management team, suggesting that the shift was partly influenced by the earlier disconnect over Heated Rivalry.

His faith in the series has clearly been validated by its success, particularly the reactions to his character Scott, whose journey includes a defining moment in which he publicly comes out as gay during an emotional on-ice scene.

The popularity of Heated Rivalry has sparked conversations far beyond its storyline, with fans and critics alike praising its portrayal of queer love, sports culture, and the pressures faced by closeted athletes.