EXCLUSIVE: Execs on the streamer behind Heated Rivalry would love for the present to get again on the ice as quickly as attainable, however they’re giving creator Jacob Tierney all of the house he must get the play proper.
Bell Media senior execs Justin Stockman and Carlyn Klebuc instructed Deadline that Season 2 of the homosexual ice hockey breakout drama remains to be scheduled to return to Canadian streamer Crave in spring 2027, with manufacturing set to start later this yr. HBO and a number of worldwide networks and streamers are already on board.
The pair have been speaking to Deadline forward of Bell’s upfront in the present day, the place a brand new sequence starring Heated Rivalry‘s Robbie G.Okay. was unveiled amongst 118 originals for the 2026/27 slate.
Stockman, Bell’s VP of World Content material, has beforehand teased a bonus episode of Heated Rivalry might fill the hole between Heated Rivalry Season 1, which launched in late 2025, and the second run, however there’s no phrase on that proper now. As for Season 2, “The scripts are coming collectively rather well and I don’t assume anybody will probably be disenchanted,” mentioned Stockman.
Klebuc, Bell’s Basic Supervisor of Unique Programming, admitted, “We’d have appreciated it quicker, however Jacob is writing and directing, and he wants the time to make one other stunning season, which we’re assured he’ll do.”
As audiences and web followers eagerly anticipate the present, gobbling up any replace, Klebuc famous that “in contrast with one thing like Euphoria, which took years and years, that is fairly fast turnaround.”
Stockman added that Season 1, which was moved up within the schedule from a February 2026 launch to festive season 2025 as hype constructed across the present, was nonetheless being edited whereas it was on air, and that simply this week it had resurfaced on Crave’s interface within the high ten.
“Persons are nonetheless discovering Season 1, however by the point it comes again hopefully the hole doesn’t really feel that lengthy and pleasure will hopefully erase the months of ready,” he added.
Final week, we have been first with the information that Accent Aigu Leisure, the Heated Rivalry manufacturing home that Tierney runs with Brendan Brady, had restructured with a new-look administration crew. That noticed Tierney turn out to be Chief Artistic Officer and Brady CEO, with a number of different promotions and hires unveiled on the similar time.
There’s nonetheless no official phrase on casting for Season 2, however Crave is hopeful the solid will return. The present, which follows the key love affair between skilled hockey gamers Ilya and Shane, stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams within the lead roles. The likes of François Arnaud, Robbie G.Okay., Sophie Nélisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova additionally star.
