Connor Storrie’s Post-‘Heated Rivalry’ Rise Continues With Sarah Polley’s ‘The Bell Jar’ Starring Billie Eilish

Connor Storrie. I’m sure you’ve heard the name.

There are actors who are social media constructs, their popularity a mirage of online fandom that some misconstrue as box-office appeal — some of the names that come to mind include Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal.

The latest one is Storrie, of “Heated Rivalry” fame, who, after starring in the gay hockey drama series, spawned a major fandom across the social media airwaves, to the point where he’s now been cast in multiple upcoming movies, including two A24 projects: Molly Gordon’s “Peaked” and Halina Reijn’s “Please,” as well as the Craig Zobel-directed “Turpentine” and now Sarah Polley’s latest.

Apparently, Storrie was spotted on the set of Polley’s Sylvia Plath adaptation of “The Bell Jar,” which stars Billie Eilish in the lead role. No word yet on what role he’s playing, but Focus is backing the project, which is eyeing a 2027 premiere.

Plath’s struggles with severe depression are, sadly, part of the lore surrounding her legacy as a great writer. She took her own life at the age of 30, just a month after releasing “The Bell Jar” in 1963 under the pen name “Victoria Lucas.” Three years later, the novel was republished under her real name for the first time. It did not reach American readers until 1971, when it quickly became a bestseller.

“The Bell Jar” is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows Esther Greenwood (Eilish), a young woman who appears to have a bright future but gradually descends into depression. As she contends with societal expectations, personal identity, and the pressure to succeed, Esther experiences profound isolation and suffocation, as if trapped under a metaphorical bell jar.

Adding Storrie into the mix guarantees social media credibility, but only time will tell whether he’s another flash in the pan or the real deal — it’s very hard to tell. Having seen only a few episodes of “Heated Rivalry,” he does command screen presence. Maybe this time around, there’s some depth behind the fandom.