'Heated Rivalry' creator promises season 2 is coming 'as soon as humanly possible'

Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney has reassured fans that the hit hockey romance drama’s second season is moving forward quickly, promising that new episodes will arrive “as soon as humanly possible” following the show’s breakout success.

Speaking during an appearance on CBS Mornings alongside executive producer Brendan Brady, Tierney confirmed that writing is already underway and that production on Season 2 is expected to begin in August 2026. “We are writing it now,” Tierney said, adding that the team is preparing to start filming this summer.

The update comes after Heated Rivalry became one of the biggest surprise television hits of the past year. The series, based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers novels, follows the secret relationship between rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

While an official premiere date has not been announced, multiple reports indicate that Season 2 is currently targeting a spring 2027 release, with April 2027 emerging as the likely window.

Brady also addressed fan impatience surrounding the wait for new episodes, jokingly encouraging viewers to “enjoy the yearn” while the creative team works on the next chapter of Shane and Ilya’s story.

Season 2 is expected to adapt The Long Game, the sixth novel in Reid’s Game Changers series and a direct continuation of Shane and Ilya’s relationship after the events of Season 1. Tierney has previously hinted that the new season will move into “much more serious” territory as the couple confront the realities of maintaining their relationship while navigating professional hockey careers and public scrutiny.

The creator has also suggested that some storylines not shown in the original novel may appear on screen. According to previous reports, Tierney hopes to include Shane’s coming-out journey with his teammates, an event that occurred off-page in the books.

The overwhelming success of the first season reportedly caught even its creators by surprise. After premiering on Crave in Canada before expanding to HBO Max in the United States, the series quickly became a viral phenomenon and one of the most discussed LGBTQ+ television dramas online.

Interest in the franchise has continued to grow beyond television. Rachel Reid is currently working on another Shane and Ilya novel titled Unrivaled, although its publication was recently pushed to 2027 due to the author’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms affecting the writing process.

With filming expected to begin in August and scripts actively being developed, Tierney’s latest comments have given fans their clearest indication yet that the next chapter of Heated Rivalry is firmly on track.