'Heated Rivalry' Season 2: Everything We Know

In all my 30+ years, I have never watched a hockey game. I have, however, watched Heated Rivalry on HBO Max. The sexy hockey romance adapts the second book in Rachel Reid's Game Changer series (also titled Heated Rivalry). And while it hasn't taught me much about the sport, it has introduced me and countless others to the hockey romance genre. Let's just put it this way: We're hooked and demanding a season 2 ASAP.

Season 1 of Heated Rivalry introduced fans to Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie—two hockey players whose rivalry on the ice quickly turns into scorching hot sexual tension. The show begins in 2008, with season 1 following the beginning of their relationship. Neither Ilya nor Shane is publicly out with their sexuality, and while they have a habit of hooking up whenever they cross paths, they're also in no rush to make things official.

The six-episode season follows the first nine years of Shane and Ilya's romance, but fans of the original Heated Rivalry romance novel know this is a love story that spans decades. So it's only right that fans get more seasons. Below, we're breaking down everything we know about Heated Rivalry season 2.

Is 'Heated Rivalry' renewed for season 2?

Yes! The TV Gods have smiled upon us and granted us a season 2 of Heated Rivalry before season 1 was even over. The news was announced on the Heated Rivalry Instagram account along with a video of stars Storrie and Williams reading from The Long Game, the sixth book in the Game Changers series and the continuation of Shane and Ilya's love story.

In a separate video for HBO, Williams teased that season 2 would be “hotter, wetter, longer.”

When will 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 come out?

We've received news so hot it could melt ice! In late February, series creator Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady appeared on CBS Mornings and revealed the loose premiere date of April 2027, per Variety. They confirmed that production is set to begin this August, so the new episodes should arrive in the spring of next year.

Tierney said, "There will be more Heated Rivalry on your TVs truly as soon as humanly possible," and jokingly added that fans should "enjoy the yearn" in the meantime.

Production on season 2 is moving at a more reasonable pace compared to season 1, which had a very quick turnaround. For example, according to Storrie's Instagram, season 1 wrapped filming in June 2025, only six months before premiering in late November. However, season 1 was only six episodes long, and the renewal wasn't guaranteed, so the team needs time to write the forthcoming installments this time around.

After season 1 aired, Tierney told viewers to brace themselves for a bit of a wait. "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," he told Variety in a late December 2025 interview. "So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon."

Tierney added, "We understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons. And at the same time, I don’t want to put out a rushed, shitty second season just because the show is very popular. But we’re very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don’t want to wait too long. We’re getting back to work!"

Hudson Williams offered fans more context on why season 2 will need to take longer. During an appearance on "Andy Cohen Live," the actor explained that season 1's quick turnaround was tough on the showrunner.

"[Season 1] adapted two books. What Jacob Tierney does for season 2, I don't know. But this killed him. I think what people don't know is, he was giving final cuts of the episodes two days before they screened," Williams explained, adding that Tierney "sounded like a ghoul" when the actor called him after the finale dropped.

Still, about a year and a half between seasons 1 and 2 is pretty reasonable in the streaming age, when some shows have been delayed for years. So, we'll take April 2027! Plus, it sounds like 2027 is gearing up to be a major Heated Rivalry year, with the next book in the series and third Hollanov romance, Unrivaled, due out in June 2027. In the meantime, fans looking for their hockey romance fix can always rewatch season 1 and read the Game Changer series.

What cast members are returning for 'Heated Rivalry' season 2?

The exact cast list has yet to be confirmed. Still, given the season 2 renewal announcements, it's safe to say that both leads, Williams and Storrie, will reprise their roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

Given the show's success and the fan obsession with François Arnaud, it seems likely that he'll return as Scott Hunter. That hopefully means we'll also see more appearances from Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady as well. Shane's parents, Yuna and David, played by Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh, play a vital role in The Long Game, so they're likely to return as well, though nothing has been confirmed.

What will 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 be about?

The video announcing season 2 makes it clear that the next batch of new episodes will adapt The Long Game by Rachel Reid. The 2022 romance book is technically the sequel to Ilya and Shane's Heated Rivalry story (though it's also Book 6 in the entire series). We can look to what unfolds in the book to predict what we might see on screen.

The Long Game picks up three years after the end of the Heated Rivalry novel, 10 years into their relationship. Ilya and Shane are still keeping their romance a secret, while the pressure of being professional athletes continues to weigh heavily. Ilya might be ready to take their relationship public, but Shane is still playing things close to the vest. Are they ready to risk it all to be together?

Tierney has spoken about how exciting it is to bring The Long Game to the screen—and how much of a change fans should expect from season 1, especially considering how "emotionally sophisticated" the source material is. "It’s different. It really is different," the series creator said while speaking at a BookCon event in April 2026, per Variety. "The challenge of it is, from an adaptation point of view, is that you’re in much more serious territory. A lot of the initial—there’s still lots of flirting and lots of sex—but this kind of danger, this kind of hotel-room-adolescent-sex stuff is largely gone. And so it presents really new challenges."

Tierney added that Ilya and Shane will always be "the heartbeat" of the TV show, but that season 2 will, in fact, adapt parts of the other books in the Game Changers series. He explained that Role Model, the fifth installment, will feed into the plot.

If you have yet to read Role Model, the book follows hockey star Troy, who has been traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, as he deals with a breakup and scandal. While he's unenthused about playing on the struggling team, his attitude starts to change when he meets their social media manager, Harris.

As book fans are well aware, there's a direct tie-in to the Ilya and Shane story. In Role Model, Ilya and Shane have followed through on their plan to move to Ottawa, and Troy's captain is none other than the Russian star athlete himself.

Season 2 won't be the first time the show adapts other books in the series. Episode 3, “Hunter,” was based on the first book in the queer series, also called Game Changers. The episode introduced the story of New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter, played by François Arnaud, and his secret boyfriend, Kip (Robbie G.K.), but only told part of their story. There's certainly more that we could see there, but the word is still out on whether that will make it into season 2.

However, we do know for sure is that Heated Rivalry won't lose any steam going into season 2. Tierney told Etalk that he wants the show to always evoke “horny joy,” and it's safe to say that he'll be taking that mission into the new season.

How many seasons will 'Heated Rivalry' have?

With the massive success of Heated Rivalry, it makes sense to wonder whether the series could continue after the upcoming second season. And that's not just the fandom psychosis talking; we have receipts from the show's stars themselves.

In their cover story for GQ Hype, Williams and Storrie (a.k.a. HudCon) revealed that they both signed on for three seasons of the show. Although this is a common practice in TV, fans responded to the news by speculating whether The Long Game could be split into two seasons or if the show would inevitably bring to life Unrivaled and run for four installments. With the ongoing hype, Crave and HBO Max may not be willing to let Heated Rivalry end at just two seasons.

In April 2026, Jacob Tierney hinted that a popular fan theory may be coming true. Speaking to Deadline, the creator coyly teased that season 2 may not be able to cover all of Shane and Ilya's The Long Game story. "Who said I’m doing it all? There’s a lot of material," he said.

Tierney also revealed that he's brought on North of North producer Michael Goldbach to co-write the upcoming episodes. "We’re just continuing to give Shane and Ilya the seriousness that this love affair deserves while also continuing to exist within the confines of the genre that we’re in, which I love," Tierney added. "I want them to be happy, but I also want to show that that’s not easy. Because part of what Rachel does so brilliantly in her writing is to give queerness joy, but also not pretend the world isn’t the world. It’s not like she created this world where it’s like, there’s no homophobia and hockey’s amazing, and anyone can come out. No. She shows it’s difficult, takes courage, guts, and sacrifice, and takes stepping up and saying things with your full chest. And that to me is a triumph. That’s what we’re trying to do here."