Heated Rivalry season 2 release date speculation, cast and latest news

I’ve been SO excited, and finally, Heated Rivalry – that amazing ice hockey romance everyone’s been talking about – is here in the UK! It felt like forever waiting six weeks for it to come over from the US, but it’s finally here and I can’t wait to dive in!

Now streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW, the series centers on a hidden romance between athletes Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.

The show has gotten a lot of attention for its intimate scenes, but it’s also been praised for its genuine love story and honest portrayal of the challenges people face when coming out, particularly those in the public spotlight.

The LGBTQ+ drama quickly became a success, turning its stars, Williams and Storrie, into overnight sensations. As a result, Canadian streaming service Crave didn’t hesitate to order additional episodes.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a bit for new episodes. Here’s an update on season 2 of Heated Rivalry, with details from the show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, and the author of the original story, Rachel Reid.

Heated Rivalry season 2 release date speculation

A release date for Heated Rivalry season 2 hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s likely that Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the US will make it a priority.

The show was quickly renewed for a second season in December 2025, thanks to its huge success and positive reviews. However, the show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, revealed later that month he hadn’t yet begun planning it.

If things go well, we can expect a new season of the show about once a year, potentially premiering in winter 2026. However, this is just an estimated timeframe at this point.

We’ll update this page when further details about the Heated Rivalry return date emerge.

Heated Rivalry season 2 cast speculation

Fans can expect to see Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie reprise their roles as rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in season 2 of Heated Rivalry.

Before this show aired, neither actor had much experience with on-screen roles. Now, they’re both highly sought-after stars in Hollywood, and have signed with the powerful talent agency, CAA.

With the show becoming so popular recently, many expect some well-known actors to join the cast for season 2, but there haven’t been any announcements about new additions yet.

Miley Cyrus, known for her music career, is now hoping to contribute a song to the second season of a show. This comes after she received a Golden Globe nomination for “Dream as One,” a song she wrote for Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Rachel Reid, the author of Heated Rivalry, has expressed her desire to see more of Scott and Kip’s relationship in season 2. Their connection proved popular with viewers, especially in the third episode of season 1.

Here’s a reminder of the main cast of Heated Rivalry:

Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander
Connor Storrie as Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov
François Arnaud as Scott Hunter
Robbie GK as Christopher ‘Kip’ Grady
Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander
Dylan Walsh as David Hollander
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Sergeevna Vetrova
Callan Potter as Hayden Pike
Matt Gordon as George Grady, Kip’s father
Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry

Heated Rivalry season 2 plot speculation: What could happen next?

Jacob Tierney, the creator of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ has hinted that the show’s second season will be inspired by Rachel Reid’s novel, ‘The Long Game’—the second book in her series featuring characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

I’m really enjoying the Game Changers series! It’s actually six books, but it doesn’t feel like following one long story. Instead, each book jumps between different gay couples who are all involved in sports – it’s like a collection of sweet and steamy romances all within the same world.

Currently, there are two novels available featuring Shane and Ilya – Heated Rivalry and The Long Game. Fans can look forward to a third book continuing their love story, which is scheduled to be released in September.

Tierney explained to Deadline that he hasn’t begun working on the adaptation and doesn’t have any concrete plans yet. He wasn’t being secretive – he simply hasn’t figured things out yet.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have access to so many books – they’re a fantastic resource for inspiration, detail, and building a richer narrative. While ‘Heated Rivalry’ will always focus on Shane and Ilya, we’ve created a much larger world around them.

Honestly, I’m really thrilled to hear they’re already brainstorming tons of new ideas! Knowing people are actually interested in what they’re doing is a huge boost, and it sounds like they’re ready to dive deeper and really develop those ideas now. It’s genuinely exciting to think about what they’ll come up with next.

He hinted that we might see spin-off shows focusing on characters like Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and other leads from the Game Changers series.

Fans who are invested in Shane and Ilya’s relationship don’t need to worry – their story will continue to be a focus going forward.

The summary for The Long Game suggests possible storylines for season two of Heated Rivalry. It reveals that Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been together for ten years, but have kept their relationship hidden the entire time.

“It’s time for them to decide what’s most important—hockey or love. It’s time to make a call.”

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That summary totally matches what Hudson Williams from Heated Rivalry said he was hoping for in season two, according to an interview with Entertainment Tonight. As a fan, I’m really excited to see if the show delivers on his vision!

He expressed a desire to see Shane and Ilya become a couple. While viewers have seen hints of a potential romance, they haven’t actually seen them in a relationship. He thinks it would be interesting to see them navigate the challenges and realities that all couples face – the genuine, everyday struggles.

In a recent Variety interview, author Taylor Jenkins Reid explained her plans for the show, stating that any future seasons would center around Ilya and Shane. She confirmed there won’t be a second season with a different couple, as she believes that wouldn’t resonate with audiences.

We anticipated Scott and Kip would be well-received, but their popularity still exceeded our expectations. Now, the challenge is figuring out how to meet the high demand for their work.

She explained that the story will primarily focus on “The Long Game,” but another book, “Role Model,” shares some similar themes. She’s hoping both stories can be developed concurrently.

Role Model tells the story of Troy Barrett, a notoriously grumpy ice hockey player who gets traded to a struggling team. He unexpectedly finds happiness through a connection with Harris Drover, the team’s cheerful social media manager.

Is there a Heated Rivalry season 2 trailer?

Alas, there’s no new footage to share just yet – but we’ll update this page when that changes.

For now, why not refresh your memory of the first season?

Heated Rivalry is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Don’t miss the heated rivalry! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download now to get daily TV recommendations, exclusive features, and stay up-to-date with everything happening in TV.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows across television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-01-12 19:06