Hollanov fans can breathe a sigh of relief. After premiering on November 28, Crave has greenlit Season 2 of the hockey romance series Heated Rivalry, adapted from Rachel Reid’s popular book series, Game Changers.
HBO Max U.S. and Australia, and NEON (Sky New Zealand), who already exclusively stream Season 1 in those respective markets, have also committed to the streaming rights for a second season.
“Heated Rivalry represents the very best of what Canadian creators can deliver: rich characters, compelling drama, and a world audiences want to live in,” said Justin Stockman, VP Content and Programming, Bell Media. “The response has been extraordinary, and seeing the series now travelling internationally is an incredible milestone.”
The series is “Crave’s #1 original series debut on record in the first seven-day streams, increasing its viewership by nearly 400% since the premiere on Friday, Nov. 28*.”
Created by writer-director-producer Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny, Shoresy), the six-episode drama tells the story of Canadian hockey player Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands.
What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, the pair chase glory on the ice while struggling to navigate their feelings off it. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile and as powerful as real love.
“Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honour, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love,” said show Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady.
The ensemble cast includes François Arnaud (The Borgias) as Scott Hunter, Robbie G.K. (Overcompensating) as Kip Grady, Christina Chang (The Good Doctor) and Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) as Yuna and David Hollander, Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets) as Rose Landry, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana (Strays).
A new episode of Heated Rivalry drops Fridays through December 26.
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