Season two of Heated Rivalry is already shaping up to turn up the heat, following reports that a casting call revealing several new characters has leaked online.
The hit gay hockey romance is set to return in 2027, continuing the story of Ilya (Connor Storrie) and Shane (Hudson Williams). In the meantime, fans have been dissecting an alleged casting sheet that recently surfaced from a Canadian talent agency and quickly spread across social media.
The leaked details suggest a wave of new characters will join the series, many drawn from Game Changers series by Rachel Reid — the book series that inspired the show.
While season one primarily adapted Heated Rivalry, it also introduced characters from Game Changer, including Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie GK). Now, season two appears to expand deeper into the book universe.
Among the reported additions are Ryan Price and Fabian Salah from Tough Guy. Ryan, described as “possibly red-headed”, is paired with Fabian, whose androgynous presence is expected to carry over onto screen. The casting notes also suggest their storyline will include intimate moments, in line with the show’s signature tone.
New and Returning Characters
The second season is also expected to introduce Eric Bennett, the central character from Common Goal. Described as being in his early 40s, Eric is navigating life after divorce while coming to terms with his bisexuality and stepping into the queer dating world.
His love interest, Kyle Swift — previously introduced in season one and played briefly by Matthew Finlan — is also expected to return.
Finlan recently told Entertainment Weekly that he’s still in the dark about where Kyle’s story is headed.
“I don’t know what his love life looks like… I know just as much as you — or just as little,” he said. “Basically I’m just at the ready.”
Other characters reportedly joining the series include Harris Drover from Role Model, described as “cute, disarming” and “very funny”. His partner Troy Barrett may already be cast, with rumours linking the role to Adults actor Jack Innanen.
Additional roles listed in the leak include Dallas Kent, a homophobic antagonist, as well as teammates Wyatt Hayes and Luca Haas.
The show is also casting Dr Galina Molchalina, Ilya’s therapist, who plays a key role in The Long Game. The role requires fluency in Russian, hinting at more Russian dialogue in the upcoming season.
When Is Season Two Coming?
Showrunner Jacob Tierney recently confirmed that production is moving forward, with filming expected to begin in August.
“There will be more Heated Rivalry on your TVs, like, truly, as soon as humanly possible,” he said.
Streaming service Crave has also confirmed that production will begin this summer, with a target release set for spring 2027.
Meanwhile, Reid is continuing to expand the story on the page. The seventh instalment in the Game Changers series, titled Unrivaled, is also set for release in 2027 and will further explore Shane and Ilya’s relationship.
With new characters, expanded storylines and plenty of fan anticipation, season two is already shaping up to be just as intense — and just as beloved — as the first.
