Ever since it debuted in Canada at the end of last year, LGBTQ+ hockey romance series Heated Rivalry has been taking the world by storm. Fans in the UK are now able to watch it on Sky and NOW, meaning it will no doubt grow a similarly devoted fan base over here.
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Unsurprisingly, a second season was confirmed to be in the works in December, and now Ilya Rozanov star Connor Storrie has provided an update on its progress.
Speaking on Today, Storrie said: "I think Jacob [Tierney, showrunner]’s still writing it. I think we’re going to be filming, I don’t know when, exactly."
When asked by Today co-host Craig Melvin whether production could start by summer 2026, Storrie replied: "Yeah, I think about then."
Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) in Heated Rivalry. Sabrina Lantos / Sky
The series is based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changer novels, of which there are currently only two focused on the story of Ilya and Shane (although a third is coming later this year).
However, there are still plenty of other options for spin-offs, and Scott Hunter star François Arnaud has teased that Tierney has suggested one could be based on his character.
"I know there’s a lot of conversations around many possible iterations of that," he said when asked about his Scott’s future on Andy Cohen Live.
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"I’m hearing all sorts of things. There’s potential a side project that would focus on Scott but I don’t know what that would look like either. I’ve read the books, and in the books Scott buys this sports bar that Kip goes to.”
Arnaud said that he's "not contracted to do anything" at this point, but that he will "happily go back, obviously".
François Arnaud as Scott Hunter in Heated Rivalry. Sabrina Lantos
He continued: "I did tell Jacob, ‘Can I not just serve pints to your lead characters please? I would like my own…’ I think there will be more. I kinda know what it looks like. Jacob’s aware of the positive reaction to Scott’s story and to me it’s just a different angle to the main story.
"It shows the weight that he’s carried on his shoulders. It’s slightly more dramatic and more rom-com and they compliment each other."
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
