Canada’s new hit series, “Heated Rivalry,” featuring a gay hockey romance, has been confirmed for a second season. Bell Media announced that the show, which follows the secret love affair between two male hockey players, will be returning to Crave and HBO Max for additional episodes.
The show, helmed by writer-director Jacob Tierney, has gained immense popularity recently, with its captivating moments being widely shared on platforms like TikTok. Starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as rival NHL players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the series delves into their off-ice relationship that spans several years.
“Crave” reported that the steamy adaptation became its most-viewed original series debut in the first week, although specific viewership figures were not disclosed. The season finale is scheduled for release on December 26.
“Heated Rivalry” is inspired by the book series “Game Changers” by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid. New distribution agreements for the show have been reached outside North America, with Sky in New Zealand and Movistar Plus+ in Spain securing rights to the Crave original. HBO Max will hold distribution rights in various parts of Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines, with plans to announce deals with platforms in other regions soon, including the United Kingdom.