Heated Rivalry Season 2 Will Change Key Character In Major Way As Creator Teases “Serious” Story

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Heated Rivalry is growing up in season 2.

Jacob Tierney, the creator of the show, is currently planning the next season, building on the story of Shane and Ilya. He’s using Rachel Reid’s novel, The Long Game, as a guide. Actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who play Ilya and Shane, have quickly become popular since the show began, and season two will delve deeper into their characters while also introducing new ones.

Author Tierney has revealed that Troy Barrett, a character from his novel Role Model, will appear in season two of Heated Rivalry. He also hinted that Barrett’s storyline will be even more intense than it is in the books. Tierney shared this news while at BookCon 2026 in New York City, during a discussion led by Versha Sharma, according to EW.

During a recent discussion, it was confirmed that season two of Heated Rivalry will cover the events of Role Model, the fifth book in the series. This installment sees Troy transferred to the Ottawa Centaurs, the team where Ilya now plays. The season will also introduce Harris Drover, who manages the Centaurs’ social media. However, the showrunner hinted that Troy will face significant challenges, as the book portrays him as deeply troubled, and the series will explore these issues even further. They emphasized that Troy is already a complex character on the show, and season two will delve deeper into his struggles.

Game Changers Universe Books Subjects
Game Changer Scott & Kip
Heated Rivalry Shane & Ilya
Tough Guy Ryan & Fabian
Common Goal Eric & Kyle
Role Model Troy & Harris
The Long Game Shane & Ilya
Unvrivaled (forthcoming) Shane & Ilya

The story of Troy is already quite serious, and Tierney is making it even more complex. In the books, Troy is secretly gay and struggling with the fallout of a broken friendship with his former teammate, Dallas Kent, who faces multiple sexual assault accusations. Troy also grapples with his own guilt, realizing he unintentionally supported Dallas’ harmful actions both on and off the ice. The Centaurs team and player Ilya Rozanov could be what helps Troy turn his life around.

We don’t yet know who will be cast in season 2 of Heated Rivalry. It’s unclear which actors will play roles like Troy and Harris from the Centaurs team. Jack Innanen, known for his work on Adults and Big Mistakes, has hinted he might be joining the show, and many fans believe he’ll play Wyatt Hayes, also a Centaurs player.

It’s fitting that the show is exploring the darker aspects of Troy’s history, as it’s crucial to understanding the challenges Ilya and Shane face, which will become even more intense in the next season. The creator mentioned that adapting the next book will be difficult, describing it as a much more serious story. While there will still be romance and intimacy, he also hinted at a growing sense of danger.

The intense, early stages of a relationship – often fueled by excitement and risk – eventually fade. This couple is now facing a new set of difficulties: how to build a healthy, lasting connection when communication is still a struggle. Simply saying ‘I love you’ isn’t enough for a successful adult relationship, and they’re beginning to understand that.

Tierney has hinted that the story of The Long Game might be told over several seasons of Heated Rivalry. After writing the first season alone, Tierney is collaborating with Michael Goldbach for the second season. The popular series, which first launched on Crave and HBO Max in November, is expected to return in spring 2027, with production beginning this summer.

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2026-04-19 01:58