The film will mark one of Williams’ first new projects since “Heated Rivalry” debuted last year.

Hudson Williams, Dylan O’Brien to maximize their joint fandom, will costar in thriller about ‘handheld massagers’

The film will mark one of Williams' first new projects since "Heated Rivalry" debuted last year.

By Mekishana Pierre

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.

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on March 27, 2026 4:31 p.m. ET

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Hudson Williams; Dylan O'Brien. Credit:

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty for IMDb

*Heated Rivalry*'s Hudson Williams is going from the "boy aquarium" to the ridesharing business in his latest new project. The star has been cast alongside *Teen Wolf *alum Dylan O'Brien in the upcoming feature directorial debut of actress Sofia Banzhaf, ** has learned.

Described as a "darkly comedic thriller," *Apparatus* follows struggling young rideshare driver Tyler (Williams), who falls under the influence of a self-styled entrepreneur, JP (O'Brien). The latter offers Tyler a future in his handheld massager business, but what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.

Banzhaf will direct the film co-written by her and Grayson Moore (*Cardinals*). Production dates and locations for *Apparatus *are still being finalized.

Hudson Williams at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week on March 7, 2026.

Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty

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The casting announcement comes as Williams recently wrapped his latest project, the 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*).

*Yaga *marked Williams' first new project after the Canadian actor became a viral sensation thanks to *Heated Rivalry*'s premiere on HBO Max late last year. He stars on the Crave queer hockey drama alongside Connor Storrie, playing the star-crossed, puck-smashing Shane and Ilya, respectively, rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love). Season 2 is slated to premiere spring 2027.

The show recently scored 18 nominations for this year's Canadian Screen Awards, including best drama series, direction for Jacob Tierney, and a lead performer nod for Williams.

Dylan O'Brien attends the 'Send Help' premiere on Jan. 29, 2026.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

O'Brien is fresh off his *Send Help *performance as the toxic new boss of his late father's company, who finds himself stranded on a deserted island with a quirky grunt worker, Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), whom he cannot stand. Before that, the actor most recently appeared in the 2025 movies *Anniversary* and *Twinless*.

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Source: “AOL Film”