Full Breakdown
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Set for Spring 2027 on Crave
6/5/2026, 12:31:56 AM
Season 2 Set for Spring 2027
Crave, Bell Media’s Canadian streaming service, has confirmed that the second season of the gay ice-hockey drama Heated Rivalry will premiere in spring 2027. Production is slated to begin later in 2026, allowing creator Jacob Tierney time to write and direct.
Background & Context
Heated Rivalry follows the secret romance between professional hockey players Ilya and Shane, portrayed by Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. The series debuted in late 2025 after an accelerated launch that moved the premiere from a planned February 2026 slot to the 2025 holiday season, quickly becoming a breakout drama that entered Crave’s top-ten rankings within weeks. In June 2026, Accent Aigu Entertainment—the production house co-run by Tierney and Brendan Brady—announced a restructuring that named Tierney Chief Creative Officer and Brady CEO. Bell Media executives overseeing the series include Justin Stockman, Vice President of Global Content, and Carlyn Klebuc, General Manager of Original Programming. The timeline now places Season 1’s continued editing and top-ten resurgence in early 2026, the management restructure in June 2026, and Season 2 production later in 2026 for a spring 2027 release.
Official Statements & Responses
Justin Stockman said the scripts are coming together well and expressed confidence that audiences will not be disappointed. Carlyn Klebuc emphasized the need for Tierney’s creative time, noting that a faster schedule would have been preferable but that the extended development aims to deliver a “beautiful” season. Both executives mentioned the possibility of a bonus episode to shorten the gap, though no details have been confirmed.
Criticism & Opposition
No public criticism or opposition to the renewal or production schedule was reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The scripts are coming together really well and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed,” — Justin Stockman, VP of Global Content, Bell Media
- “We would have liked it faster, but Jacob is writing and directing, and he needs the time to make another beautiful season, which we’re confident he will do.” — Carlyn Klebuc, General Manager of Original Programming, Bell Media
- “compared with something like Euphoria, which took years and years, this is pretty quick turnaround.” — Carlyn Klebuc, General Manager of Original Programming, Bell Media
- “People are still discovering Season 1, but by the time it comes back hopefully the gap doesn’t feel that long and excitement will hopefully erase the months of waiting,” — Justin Stockman, VP of Global Content, Bell Media
What’s Next
Production on Season 2 is expected to start later in 2026, with filming and post-production planned to finish in time for a spring 2027 premiere. Bell Media has hinted at a possible bonus episode to bridge the gap, though no timeline has been set. Heated Rivalry will be part of Crave’s 2026/27 slate of 118 original titles.
