Is Tom Hardy joining the cast of Heated Rivalry season 2?

A fake X post about Tom Hardy joining Heated Rivalry Season 2 went viral, despite no confirmation

A viral post on X claiming that Tom Hardy has joined the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2 sent fans into a frenzy.

The announcement, shared by the parody account @tombrockhardy, featured intense gym photos of the actor and a mock HuffPost link, quickly racking up tens of thousands of likes, reposts, thirsty replies, quotes flooded with memes and explicit fantasies, and nearly 1.8 million views in under a day.

Tom Hardy has joined the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2.

(https://t.co/o9hHF7bias) pic.twitter.com/zHFTITUFGb

— Film Upbates (@tombrockhardy) February 26, 2026

Heated Rivalry, the acclaimed LGBTQ+ romance drama on Crave and HBO Max, follows the forbidden attraction between rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Season 1 earned widespread praise for its authentic storytelling, chemistry between leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams.

With Season 2 now confirmed, production set to begin this summer and a potential April 2027 release window, fans have been eagerly speculating about new cast additions and plot developments.

This isn't the first time Hardy's name has sparked heated discussions in queer contexts.

Back in 2010, around the release of Inception, the actor made headlines with candid comments in an interview with NOW magazine (widely reported via outlets like HuffPost and the Daily Mail), where he addressed questions about his sexuality and past experiences: "Of course I have. I'm an actor for f*ck's sake. I've played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I'm in my thirties, it doesn't do it for me. I'm done experimenting but there's plenty of stuff in a relationship with another man, especially gay men, that I need in my life."

He also spoke about his "definite feminine qualities" and feeling "intrinsically feminine," adding layers to his public persona that fans have long celebrated and memed.

While no official confirmation has surfaced and the post came from an account known for satirical, fan-bait "news" drops, the engagement was massive. For now, Heated Rivalry Season 2 remains focused on its core duo and signature blend of emotional depth and physical heat.