Heated Rivalry has already been renewed for a second season, and with the stars of the series on board to return, there’s another gift that most fans likely don’t even know they’re being given on the table. The series, which was produced by Bell Media’s Crave in Canada, is being distributed by HBO Max in the US, which has added to its overall reach.
That being said, Heated Rivalry is a Crave original, and keeping it that way is imperative. Heated Rivalry season 2, which will continue to follow Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as they weave their way through the fictional MLH league and attempt to understand their intense feelings for one another while keeping their romance a secret, is going to be massive.
Thankfully, creator Jacob Tierney, who previously created Canadian cultural touchstone Letterkenny, has an incredible sense of direction on where to take the project moving forward. Tierney, who worked in a unique way on Heated Rivalry season 1 to make sure that its source material was adapted in an accurate, honest way, has given fans a gift when it comes to the future of the series.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Will Continue To Be Developed Without HBO Max’s Involvement
Although HBO stepped in to distribute the queer hockey romance based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series on their streaming platform, HBO Max, Heated Rivalry season 2 won’t be bogged down by the deal. Heated Rivalry was developed and produced by Bell Media for Crave, and moving forward, HBO Max won’t be part of the creative team despite their distribution rights.
Despite HBO Max having some provocative content on the platform, this is phenomenal news for Heated Rivalry, whose unique vision has allowed the show to flourish within weeks of its initial release. Rather than bringing more cooks into the proverbial kitchen, Heated Rivalry will be sticking with what works for the show by trusting in Tierney’s vision of Reid’s work.
Heated Rivalry’s Unique Development Deal Gives Jacob Tierney Creative Control
As Heated Rivalry’s press cycle has continued, it’s become clear that the working relationship Tierney has with the executives at Crave is unique. Tierney has explained several moments of Heated Rivalry that he pushed back on including in the final series, or that he refused to change after shooting. Tierney’s dedication to making the project in the way he saw fit meant his creative control was imperative.
Moving into what will surely be a highly-anticipated second season, which likely won’t air until 2027, Heated Rivalry will need Tierney’s specific, unique vision to continue to forge ahead with the story. With Tierney working closely with Bell Media and Crave, rather than bringing another platform and its executives’ ideas into the mix, Heated Rivalry season 2 will continue to trust in Tierney to move forward.
HBO Max Remaining A Distributor Of Heated Rivalry Is The Right Move
Although there’s been some questions from viewers about whether Heated Rivalry is an HBO Max original or not, the distribution deal that the streamer has in place is the right move for the show. Keeping Heated Rivalry season 2’s creative changes to a minimum creates the best possible circumstances to ensure that the series continues its success rather than bringing more voices into the creative process.
Source: Variety
- Release Date
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November 28, 2025
- Network
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Crave
- Directors
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Jacob Tierney
Cast
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Connor Storrie
Ilya Rozanov
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Hudson Williams
Shane Hollander
