‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 – Everything We Know

by

The unexpected hit of 2025 was the series Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels. It premiered on Crave and HBO Max on November 28th with little initial attention. However, the show gained popularity over the Thanksgiving weekend and quickly became a streaming sensation, consistently climbing HBO Max’s most-watched charts. The season finale aired the day after Christmas, and Heated Rivalry ultimately became one of the year’s most discussed and highly praised shows.

“Heated Rivalry” follows the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two hockey players who appear to be fierce competitors in the public eye. However, they’ve secretly been in a romantic relationship for years. The series, which originally had a dedicated following in book form, quickly became a global hit, generating a massive amount of online buzz comparable to the final season of Stranger Things. Given its popularity and positive reviews, it’s no surprise the show has been renewed for a second season. Here’s the latest information about Season 2, including what to expect from the plot, who’s returning to the cast, and when viewers can anticipate new episodes of Shane and Ilya’s love story.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Was Confirmed, but There Will Be a Wait


Warner Bros./Crave

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry was officially announced on December 12, 2025, immediately following the premiere of its fourth episode. Accent Aigu Entertainment owns the show, and Crave will continue to stream it in Canada. HBO Max holds the rights to stream Heated Rivalry across North America and Australia, and now has worldwide streaming rights as well.

Good news for fans of Heated Rivalry: Season 2 is still coming, but it will be delayed. Creator Jacob Tierney announced on December 22, 2025, that the new season won’t be released in early 2026 as originally planned. While the initial target release was February 2026, the show surprisingly premiered on November 28, 2025 – with the final episode completed just before it aired.

Regarding when the next season will air, Jacob Terney said:

We can’t aim for the same time next year. Last year by now, I had already finished five of these, but I haven’t completed any yet this year. We’ll need to push the deadline back a bit, but it won’t be long.

Terney stated they’re aiming to avoid a two-year delay for Season 2, but won’t sacrifice quality to meet a deadline. This suggests the new season of Heated Rivalry will likely premiere in 2027, potentially during the first half of the year.

Who Will Return for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2?


Crave

So far, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are the only cast members officially confirmed for Season 2 of Heated Rivalry, playing Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively. We’re likely to see the return of François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as their characters from Season 1—Scott Hunter, Kip Grady, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, and Svetlana Vetrova—but this hasn’t been officially announced. With Yellowjackets ending after Season 4, Sophie Nélisse, who played Rose Landry, might have a larger role in Season 2 of Heated Rivalry.

Jacob Tierney, the creator of the series, will direct every episode of Season 2. He’s working with other writers to create the scripts. Although HBO Max will handle wider distribution of the show, they won’t be involved in the creative decisions. According to Casey Bloys, head of content for HBO and Max,

I’m choosing to stay out of it. I believe the show is doing well and doesn’t need outside interference, so I don’t feel it’s necessary for me to offer my opinion. They seem to have a strong vision for the show, and I’m looking forward to watching my episodes when they’re available and sharing them on HBO Max.

There Will Be a Wait for ‘Heated Rivalry’s Season 2


Crave/Warner Bros.

When HBO announced Season 2 of Heated Rivalry, they released a video with stars Hudsom Williams and Connor Storrie. Storrie suggested the new season would be based on The Long Game, the sixth book in the Game Changers series. Published in 2022, The Long Game follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who have been secretly dating for a decade, as Ilya decides he wants to reveal their relationship to the world.

Subscribe for exclusive Heated Rivalry Season 2 insights

For deeper Heated Rivalry Season 2 coverage, subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth episode analysis, casting and plot updates, behind-the-scenes context and smart takes that keep you informed about this series and similar streaming hits.

Subscribe for exclusive Heated Rivalry Season 2 insights

For deeper Heated Rivalry Season 2 coverage, subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth episode analysis, casting and plot updates, behind-the-scenes context and smart takes that keep you informed about this series and similar streaming hits.

When you sign up, you’ll get our newsletter and marketing emails, and you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can stop receiving emails at any time.

The first season of Heated Rivalry brought the story of Game Changers, book one in the series, to life in its third episode, “Hunter,” focusing on the romance between Scott Hunter and Kip. It’s currently unknown which other Game Changers book – Tough Guy, Common Goal, or Role Model – the show will adapt next, as each features a different couple. When Heated Rivalry returns, HBO Max plans a much larger promotional effort, as the series is now highly anticipated rather than being an unexpected hit.

Read More

2025-12-29 21:34