Dylan O’Brien Teams Up With Heated Rivalry Breakout Hudson Williams to Headline Sofia Banzhaf’s Feature Directorial Debut

Alright, let’s talk about Hudson Williams for a second. And trust me, if you visited my house, you’d probably assume this guy was a distant cousin with the amount of fridge space he gets in my kitchen. But honestly, Williams is everywhere right now, and he’s about to pop up even more—with none other than Teen Wolf alumni Dylan O'Brien tagging along.

Their next project? A film called 'Apparatus,' which has Sofia Banzhaf (yeah, the same one behind 'I Am in the World as Free and Slender as a Deer on a Plain'—good luck saying that title three times fast) making her big leap into feature directing.

So, what’s the deal with 'Apparatus'?

Here’s the setup: Banzhaf (who co-wrote the script with Grayson Moore, of 'Cardinals' fame) puts Williams in the shoes of a young rideshare driver named Tyler. He’s barely hanging on, life-wise, when he runs into Dylan O'Brien’s character, JP—a wannabe startup mogul who’s apparently got a thing for handheld massagers. Yes, really. JP flashes Tyler a shot at the big time via his questionable business, and Tyler (surprise!) bites. Things go from dream to absolute trainwreck when JP’s promises turn dark and violent.

In short: it's a 'promises of easy money + sketchy business + mounting chaos' tale. I’m betting this one spirals out fast.

Hudson Williams: Booked and Busy

If 'Apparatus' feels like Williams’ latest victory lap, it kind of is. Ever since he steamed up the screen in 'Heated Rivalry' (seriously, my wife may or may not be singlehandedly keeping that on repeat), Williams has been fielding offers left and right. Here’s his current line-up:

• Shooting 'Yaga' for Crave—a new spin on the Baba Yaga story, stretched out into an 8-episode modern fantasy series
• Starring in the TV mini-series 'The Altruists' as Duncan Rheingans Yoo
• Appearing as the Drifter in the upcoming thriller 'Encore' from Tristan C. Pina

Dylan O'Brien: Never Not Working

Now, O'Brien hasn’t exactly been living under a rock, either. The guy just shared the screen with Rachel McAdams in 'Send Help,' a psychological horror flick that people are shamelessly calling Sam Raimi’s best work in forever. (Not sure if that’s a high bar these days, but I'll take it.)

O'Brien recently wrapped up 'Being Heuman,' a biopic directed by Sian Heder. The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Lindsay Leese, Rob Delaney, and more, and focuses on legendary disability rights activist Judy Heumann’s 28-day takeover of San Francisco's Federal Building. It’s a true story about fighting for accessibility and equal rights—definitely feels timely.

Coming up: O'Brien is set to appear in David Petrarca’s 'Marceau,' starring alongside Mark Strong. This one’s all about the famous mime Marcel Marceau and his time with the French Resistance. Still in pre-production, but if you like true stories with a side of silent drama... file it away.

Personal Note: The Williams Home Shrine

Look, I’m not joking about the fridge shrine. My wife genuinely loves 'Heated Rivalry' so much that we’re going to see Harrison (the artist—he’s all over the soundtrack) live this Monday. Apparently, this performance is notorious for being a sweat-fest, so if nothing else, at least the kitchen theme runs deep in our household.

'Heated Rivalry fever is real in my house—blame Hudson Williams, not me.'

Anyway, that’s the scoop on 'Apparatus'—a weird, wild matchup between Williams and O'Brien, and a directorial debut worth keeping an eye on. Stay tuned for what’s bound to be a messy, massager-fueled spiral.