‘Gods of the Game’ Dream Cast: Our Picks for Ana Huang’s ‘The Defender’ Leads & More
As we eagerly await Netflix’s Twisted Love cast announcement, we couldn’t help but try our hand at dream casting another branch of BookTok’s beloved Anaverse. This time, we’re headed across the pond!
Twisted Love author Ana Huang may be known for her swoonworthy, steamy billionaire romance novels, but her London-based Gods of the Game series is all about football. The series follows Blackcastle, a premier football club based out of Markovic Stadium, named for Kings of Sin hunk Vuk. Currently, the series consists of The Striker, which follows Asher Donovan and Scarlett DuBois, and The Defender, which follows Vincent DuBois and Brooklyn Armstrong.
Ahead of the release of The Keeper, which will conclude the Gods of the Game series with Noah Wilson and Carina Yu’s love story, we’re putting together our preliminary list of actors and actresses ready to take on the ballet bar and the football pitch — if you know, you know. Be sure to check back here after The Keeper comes out next year on October 10 for our verdict on who should play the series’ final pairing in a potential adaptation.
Scroll to find out who we picked to play Asher, Scarlett, Vincent, and Brooklyn! Be sure to comment below to let us know who you would pick to play the Gods of the Game gang.
The Keeper by Ana Huang comes out on October 10, 2026.
Belmont Cameli as Asher Donovan
When it comes to The Striker‘s leading lad, there is only one guy for the job: Future Off Campus star Belmont Cameli. If you’ve seen one of Prime Video’s numerous teasers for the upcoming hockey romance, you’ll know that Cameli exudes sports romance potential, making him our perfect Asher Donovan. Whether it’s on the ice or the turf, it’s clear that this guy can make the full stadium swoon. Plus, we would love to see him try his hand at ballet…
Margaret Qualley as Scarlett DuBois
Ana Huang wrote that Scarlett DuBois had the classic beauty of Hollywood stars like Hedy Lamarr and Ava Gardner. When it comes to modern-day Hollywood, no one fits that description better than The Substance star Margaret Qualley. Scarlett has to begrudgingly teach her adopted brother, Vincent, and his rival, Asher, ballet, but it’s clear that there is a lot more to her than you can see on the surface. Let’s hope Pluto is Qualley’s favorite planet, too. Qualley is also a classically trained ballet dancer. She’s perfect for Scarlett!
Tyriq Withers as Vincent DuBois
What starts as a flirty friendship with his sister’s best friend turns into a will-they/won’t-they roommate agreement after a stalker threatens Vincent in his home. When Vincent stepped onto the scene in The Striker, all we could see was Him star Tyriq Withers. After reading The Defender, we’re dying to see Withers in the romantic leading role.
Hannah Dodd as Brooklyn Armstrong
As our final pick (for now!), we have Bridgerton star Hannah Dodd as Scarlett’s bestie and Vincent’s future love interest, Brooklyn Armstrong. Oh, and she happens to be the Blackcastle coach’s daughter. We would love to see Dodd switch out the Ton for a more modern love story, and with Withers by her side, we’re certain this is the romance to do it!
