If the last year has taught us anything, it's that our appetite for hockey romance shows is only growing.
Between the success of Elle Kennedy's Off Campus series, our enduring obsession with Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry, and an ever-growing BookTok shelf dedicated to similar stories, the genre has nothing short of exploded in recent months. Now, another fan favourite is heading to the screen, with Hannah Grace's bestselling novel Icebreaker officially in development at Netflix.
The book follows competitive figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey captain Nathan Hawkins, whose worlds collide when a scheduling mishap forces their teams to share a rink. I doubt we really need to explain the plot, but it's a classic tale of enemies to lovers, complete with forced proximity and plenty of time spent on the ice.
Naturally, as soon as news of the adaptation dropped, readers started imagining who should bring these characters to life — the RUSSH team included. Below, our picks for the Icebreaker cast.
Nathan Hawkins
Jack Innanen
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Hear us out. We already know that the Adults star was rallying for — and actually had to turn down — a role in Heated Rivalry season two. So maybe he still gets to live out his ice hockey dreams in Icebreaker? He's well suited, too: the Canadian actor grew up playing competitive ice hockey.
Michal Mràzik
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Another viable option. Although Mrázik isn't an actor by trade, he is a retired pro hockey player (at just 24, too). A move into acting isn't entirely left-of-centre either: he's written a book, has worked with Giorgio Armani, and has a growing online fanbase rallying for him to play Nathan.
Milo Manheim
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Manheim was recently tapped to lead the Tangled live action movie (alongside Aussie Teagan Croft), but we think he could carve out some time for Icebreaker. He's also well acquainted with the YA genre already, having starred in the Disney franchise Zombies for several years.
Anastasia Allen
Teagan Croft
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Speaking of Tangled stars, somebody put Teagan Croft in the rink. The 22-year-old actress has made her affinity for music well-known, so we'd guess that might translate to some figure skating skills, or good rhythm at least. We'd love to see an Aussie head-up Icebreaker.
Maddie Ziegler
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An actress we know can move for certain is Maddie Ziegler. Once a competitive dancer, Ziegler has been carving out a space on screen in recent years, with roles in Pretty Lethal, My Old Ass, and West Side Story, to name a few.
Avantika Vandanapu
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Another actress with dancing chops. Vandanapu is probably best known for her role as Karen in the Mean Girls reboot, but she's also a dancer, winning second place in a dance competition reality series in 2014, and more recently co-starring in Pretty Lethal.
Henry Turner
Tyriq Withers
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Tyriq Withers is a prime candidate for this role — Anastasia's close friend and confidant. He's adept at college-age dramas, having appeared in both Tell Me Lies and I Know What You Did Last Summer, so we can see him slotting into the Icebreaker universe quite seamlessly.
Noah Jupe
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Admittedly, Jupe's CV so far leans a little more serious, with roles in the likes of A Quiet Place and Hamnet, but we wouldn't mind seeing him lend his talents to something a little more lighthearted. We could also see him embodying Henry's trustworthy, protective nature.
Sam Nivola
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Fresh off turns in The White Lotus and Perfect Couple, Nivola has quickly become one of Hollywood's favourite young actors. Henry may not be the loudest personality in Icebreaker, but he's a fan favourite for his loyalty and steady confidence. Nivola excels at playing characters who reveal more than they initially let on, making him a compelling choice for Henry.
Lola Mitchell
Lola Tung
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Every leading lady needs a best friend, and we're eyeing off Lola Tung for this role — for more than just her name. As the star of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Lola Tung has already proven she can anchor a romance. She's also got the right mix of humour and sass that we envision for Lola.
Auli'i Cravalho
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Best known for voicing the titular heroine in Disney's Moana, Cravalho brings warmth, intelligence and an effortless charm to every performance, making her a strong fit for Lola. As the emotional centre of Anastasia's friendship circle, Lola requires someone who can balance humour, loyalty and heart — all qualities we think Cravalho is a master of.
