Jacob Tierney says ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 2 will explore 'more serious territory', adapt 'Role Model'

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is set to take a deeper, more emotional turn, with creator Jacob Tierney teasing a shift in tone as he continues developing the next chapter of the hit series.

Tierney revealed that the upcoming season, which adapts The Long Game, moves beyond the intensity and early-stage romance of Season 1 into "much more serious territory".

“It’s different. It really is different,” Tierney said, explaining that while elements of romance remain, the tone evolves significantly. “A lot of the initial… ‘hotel-room-adolescent-sex stuff’ is largely gone,” he added, noting the story now focuses more on long-term emotional stakes and realism.

The new season continues the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov years into their relationship, exploring the complexities of maintaining a secret romance over time and the challenges that come with it.

Tierney also confirmed that Season 2 will incorporate storylines from Role Model, introducing fan-favourite characters Troy Barrett and Harris Drover into the series.

“Troy is a really damaged guy,” Tierney said. “And Troy is quite damaged on the show… we are digging into that even harder. Because that’s what’s interesting.”

The adaptation process itself has expanded, with Tierney collaborating with writer Michael Goldbach to bring both novels to screen, reflecting the increased narrative scope of the new season.

Season 2 is expected to begin filming in summer 2026, with a projected release in spring 2027. The series, which streams on Crave in Canada and HBO Max internationally, has become a breakout hit for its portrayal of a secret romance between rival professional hockey players.

With its shift toward deeper emotional storytelling and the introduction of new characters, the upcoming season aims to build on the foundation of the first while pushing the narrative into more mature and complex territory.