Netflix’s Icebreaker officially hits the ice as production begins

It’s time to lace up your skates and prepare for the ultimate clash of ice and ambition. Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of Hannah Grace’s sports romance novel Icebreaker has officially started production.

Since I’m a longtime skating fan, I’m excited that Netflix will be expanding its figure skating repertoire and entering the world of ice hockey. We’ve seen how well Heated Rivalry and Off Campus have been received, so I can’t wait to see Hannah Grace’s book transformed.

The cast announced on social media that they’ve started filming the series in British Columbia. The group looked to be having a blast as they brought one of the most anticipated BookTok hits to the screen. That’s some gym, which all the actors and characters need to stay in shape for elite hockey and figure skating sessions.

What is Icebreaker about?

Icebreaker is the first novel in Hannah Grace’s Maple Hill series, set at the fictional Maple Hill University. It mainly follows ice hockey, but there is figure skating, too.

Icebreaker follows Anastasia “Stassie” Allen, a competitive figure skater gunning for gold, and college hockey captain Nate Hawkins. When their teams must share a rink, things get heated because they soon become obsessed with beating one another and wanting each other. Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers trope? It’ll be fun watching the ice thaw as they practice their moves.

Daisy Jelly and Connor Simos were cast in the leading roles of Anastasia “Stassie” Allen and Nate Hawkins. While they’re both relatively new, Icebreakers should be the perfect series to introduce them. Sometimes, it’s better to cast new actors, to help jumpstart their careers, and I think these two will be perfect. They already have chemistry in their casting announcement, and it looks like they’ve already become friends.

The rest of the cast includes Gabriel Tierney as Aaron, Auliʻi Cravalho as Lola, Chanel Kular as JJ, Craig as Henry, and Aiden Shaw as Russ. Decorated athlete Peter Berry appears as Robbie. He’ll play the assistant hockey coach and Nate’s best friend and appears in a wheelchair just like in real life. I love this inclusion.

Grace, the author of the book series, is involved in this adaptation, so avid book fans can be relieved that the source material will be honored and the characters will be developed accordingly. The project includes a winning team: Alex Cooper’s Unwell Productions, alongside Matt Kaplan and Mina Lefevre. Showrunner Amanda Lasher (Gossip Girl, The Bold Type) created the series, while Jade Halley Bartlett co-wrote the pilot script, translating the global bestseller’s signature dynamic to the screen. 

An official premiere date is still unknown, with production lasting until winter. We’ll keep you posted on updates as soon as we know.