Taylor Zakhar Perez Talks About the Similarities Between ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’: A Heartfelt Story Worth Exploring
As anticipation builds among LGBTQ romantasy enthusiasts for upcoming releases such as Heated Rivalry and Red, White & Royal Blue, actor Taylor Zakhar Perez has drawn parallels between these popular franchises.
In the forthcoming film Red, White & Royal Wedding, Perez reprises his role as Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the U.S. president. He acknowledged having “seen a few episodes” of the Crave/HBO Max adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, expressing intrigue about its themes.
Reflecting on the impact of both shows, Perez told GQ, “I haven’t really thought about it” when considering how the success of these adaptations might influence his own film. He observed major thematic connections, stating, “I saw a lot of the same elements of Red, White in Heated Rivalry. I think they work so well because it wasn’t just about sex, it was so much about intimacy—and we crave intimacy because it’s a lot less fleeting than sex is.”
Perez further elaborated, noting, “I think they told a really beautiful story over a long period of time. That made it very universal. Anyone can watch it and relate to that type of longing that you have for somebody—maybe it’s like a forbidden love—and what you have to do to either overcome that hurdle or just crash into each other and say yes.”
The sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue was initially announced in May 2024. Perez indicated that he anticipates starting filming in 2026, heightening excitement for fans of the franchise.
Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry and Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz in ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’
