Heated Rivalry creator just confirmed major season 2 details – and it’s great news
Jacob Tierney created the TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry (Image: Bruce Glikas/WireImage | Crave)
Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney has said season two will prioritise emotion and sensuality over plot twists, adding fans of the books should already know what will happen.
He said the queer hockey romance series is “not built on secrets” but on “feelings and sensation”.
Tierney also suggested fans eager for spoilers already have plenty to go on, because the series is adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels. “What’s so funny about the level of secrecy is like there’s a book – you can just look at it,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’ll tell you honestly, 90 percent of what you’d like to know is in that book.”
If you’ve not read the book, then, firstly, what are you waiting for? But secondly, there are countless beautiful moments from both Shane and Ilya, as well as plenty that will see fans reaching for the tissues (to wipe away tears, get your mind out of the gutter!).
Season one introduced Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as hockey rivals who develop a passionate but secretive romance. Season two is set to continue their story, drawing mostly from The Long Game which acts as a direct sequel to Heated Rivalry, while also weaving in storylines from Role Model. It’s also expected that elements of Tough Guy will be included, given the recent casting of characters from that book.
For Tierney, the hook is less about holding back information and more about how it lands on screen. “This show is not built on secrets. It’s built on feelings and sensation. It’s a very visceral show. It’s very sensual in that way, and it’s all in the execution of it.”
Season two is filming now
Heated Rivalry season two began filming this week and is scheduled to be released in spring 2027 on Crave and HBO Max.
Tierney said he is co-writing the new season with Mike Goldbach, who has “been so amazingly helpful”. He added: “We’re very happy with where we’re at with the scripts. We’re really happy with this cast.”
The ensemble is also expanding, with Charlie Gillespie cast as Troy and Justice Smith set to play Harris.
Tierney said some fans have pushed back on casting choices, and Reid referenced earlier criticism in an Instagram post: “Thinking about all the people last summer who told me the casting for Ilya and Shane was wrong and bad.”
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