The sports romance series Heated Rivalry will return for its second season in spring 2027, according to creator Jacob Tierney. Filming is scheduled to begin in August 2026. The announcement came during an interview on CBS Mornings.
Creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady discussed the upcoming season of Heated Rivalry during a Thursday appearance on CBS Mornings with Gayle King. They confirmed that production starts in August 2026, targeting a spring 2027 premiere. King mentioned an April 2027 debut, though a representative for Crave, the Canadian streaming service, specified only a spring 2027 target without confirming the exact month. It remains unclear if the new episodes will launch simultaneously on Crave and HBO Max, the show's U.S. platform.
Tierney explained the delay between seasons, stating, "The reason [for the wait between seasons] is because we didn't know we were going to sell the show, we didn't know anybody was going to watch it. I had not written a second season, I didn't know I was going to get a second season." He added, "But it's all happening, we're writing it now, we're getting ready to start shooting this summer, and there will be more 'Heated Rivalry' on your TVs truly as soon as humanly possible."
Brady addressed fans directly: "Like the best parts of this show, just enjoy the yearn."
Based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers novel series, Heated Rivalry follows the clandestine romance between professional hockey players Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. The cast includes François Arnaud, Franco Lo Presti, Callan Potter, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Christina Chang, Sophie Nélisse, and Robbie G.K. The series debuted on Crave in November 2025 and later on HBO Max, quickly becoming one of the year's most talked-about shows. Williams has joined the cast of the Crave series Yaga, while Storrie is slated to host Saturday Night Live on February 28.
