One of the biggest surprises of 2025 was the hit series Heated Rivalry. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, Heated Rivalry debuted on Crave and HBO Max on Nov. 28, 2025, to little fanfare. What quietly dropped over Thanksgiving weekend picked up steam and became a streaming sensation, quickly rising the ranks on HBO Max’s most-watched list week after week. The season finale aired the day after Christmas, and Heated Rivalry has become one of the most talked about and acclaimed series of the year, just under the wire.
The series centers on two hockey players, Canadian-born Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov, who in the media are professional rivals. However, behind closed doors, they have been engaged in a secret sexual affair for years. The books had a passionate fan base that helped launch the show into a global phenomenon, one that has been able to compete with the final season of Stranger Things in social media conversation. A series as popular and critically acclaimed as Heated Rivalry was bound to get a Season 2 renewal. Here is everything we know about Heated Rivalry Season 2, including some key plot details, casting news, and when fans can expect to see more of Shane and Ilya’s romance.
‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Was Confirmed, but There Will Be a Wait
Heated Rivalry Season 2 was confirmed on Dec. 12, 2025, a day after the fourth episode premiered. Accent Aigu Entertainment owns the rights to Heated Rivalry, with Crave licensing the series. Crave will once again distribute the series in Canada, with HBO Max having the North American and Australian rights. HBO Max has also acquired the global streaming rights to the series.
Fans of Heated Rivalry will have to be patient for Season 2 of the hit series. On Dec. 22, 2025, series creator Jacob Tierney confirmed that the series would not premiere in the same window in 2026. Part of this was because Heated Rivalry was not supposed to air until early 2026, likely February. However, the series was bumped up to Nov. 28, 2025, with the final episode turned in just days before it was set to air.
Regarding when the next season will air, Jacob Terney said:
“It can’t be same time next year, because this time last year I’d written five of these, and this time this year I’ve written zero of them. So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon.”
Terney said he doesn’t want it to be a two-year wait for Season 2, but also won’t rush out a lesser season of television to meet a release date. This likely means Heated Rivalry Season 2 might air in 2027, possibly in the first two quarters of the year.
Who Will Return for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2?
Currently, the only confirmed cast members of Heated Rivalry Season 2 are Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov. Season 1 regulars François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova are expected to reprise their roles as Scott Hunter, Christopher “Kip” Grady, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, and Svetlana Sergeevna Vetrova, respectively, though nothing is confirmed. Sophie Nélisse, who played actress Rose Landry, could also return in a bigger role for Season 2 as her starring series, Yellowjackets, is set to conclude with its upcoming Season 4.
Series creator Jacob Tierney confirmed he would direct all the episodes of Season 2, but said the scripts would be written by him and other writers. Tierney wrote and directed all the episodes of Season 2. While HBO Max will have greater distribution rights to the Heated Rivalry, it will not be taking more creative control of the series. HBO and Max’s content chair and CEO, Casey Bloys, told Variety:
“We’re not going to be involved. I think the last thing the show needs is people meddling in what works. So, I don’t feel any need to weigh in. Clearly, they’ve got a good sense of the show and what works. I will be excited to receive my episodes, and highlight them on HBO Max.”
There Will Be a Wait for ‘Heated Rivalry’s Season 2
When Heated Rivalry Season 2 was confirmed, HBO released an announcement video featuring Hudsom Williams and Connor Storrie. Storrie hinted that the second season will adapt The Long Game, the sixth book in the Game Changers series. The Long Game was published in 2022 and shows that, after Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been dating secretly for ten years, Illya wants to go public with their relationship.
Heated Rivalry Season 1 adapted Game Changers, the first book in the series that focused on the romance between Scott Hunter and barista Kip, for the third episode “Hunter.” It is unclear if Heated Rivalry will adapt one of the other books in the Game Changers series, Tough Guy, Common Goal, or Role Model, all of which focus on different couples. Whenever Heated Rivalry returns, expect a much bigger push from HBO Max, as it will now be returning not as the underdog but as one of the most anticipated series.
- Release Date
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November 28, 2025
- Network
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Crave
- Directors
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Jacob Tierney
