Star Hudson Williams acknowledges “I am the weakest link” when it comes to almost leaking the season 2 renewal news.

Heated Rivalry creator confirms season 2 premiere timeline, addresses Common Goal character

Star Hudson Williams acknowledges "I am the weakest link" when it comes to almost leaking the season 2 renewal news.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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December 26, 2025 9:00 a.m. ET

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Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov on 'Heated Rivalry'. Credit:

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

- Jacob Tierney and the two main stars of *Heated Rivalry* tease season 2 and the premiere timeline.

- "There's only so fast a track to go down when the show is written and directed by one person," Tierney says.

- The creator also addresses the season 1 addition of Kyle Swift, a character from a different *Game Changer* book.

*Heated Rivalry* star Hudson Williams knows the score. "I am the weakest link," he tells **. "I am to be trusted with nothing. I have been taken off the email list and the group chats because they can't trust me with anything."

The breakout star of the steamy hockey-romance drama is referring to all those press interviews he gave with costar Connor Storrie where he nearly let slip that the show would return for season 2.

Unofficially, the two leads knew about the renewal for a long time, according to series creator Jacob Tierney. "'Cause like...we *knew*," he says, referring to the runaway success *Heated Rivalry* experienced on premiere day and then going on to become the No. 1 show on HBO Max. (This was on top of all the global attention the Canadian-made Crave drama received.)

But it was only two days before the official announcement on Dec. 12 when Tierney & co. gathered up the two stars over Zoom and recorded their reaction to the news.

"I'm just here, man. I'm just here," Williams says. "I try to do my best and, yeah, sometimes it's all right."

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So when is *Heated Rivalry* season 2 coming out? "It will not be same time next year, but it'll be pretty soon after that," Tierney says. "It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can."

When asked if any plans have been fast tracked in light of the show's success, Tierney responds, "There's only so fast a track to go down when the show is written and directed by one person. I haven't started writing yet. I'm going to. We are aware. We want to get the season out as soon as we can, as well, while also making sure that we give people a good second season."

Season 2 will continue to focus on Shane and Ilya's relationship. Williams and Storrie filmed a season 2 promo video in which they read aloud excerpts from author Rachel Reid's follow-up book* The Long Game*, which picks up with the couple years later.

Storrie is admittedly resistant to sharing the books moments he's looking forward to tackling, noting that he doesn't yet know what Tierney's plan is for the adaptation.

However, "I'm interested to play at the dynamic that develops in *The Long Game,* which is, now that we've established we're together and we're choosing this, what does that look like to consistently choose through new obstacles, new self-realizations?" he says. "We're in the real leagues now, and it's cool to watch these people that have been in this heightened reality for so long. The other shoe drops that deepens the love, but that also tests some of their personal limits."

Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander on 'Heated Rivalry'.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

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Season 1 already introduced another character in Reid's *Game Changer* literary universe: Kyle Swift (Matthew Finlan), the bartender at the Kingfisher Tavern where Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) often patrons. Kyle is a central character in the book *Common Goal*, in which he strikes up a relationship with veteran hockey goalie Eric Bennett.

"I'm not being coy about that. That's the same Kyle," Tierney comments. "I don't know what his love life looks like. I don't know what that journey's gonna be or when, but that's the same Kyle for sure."

Tierney adds how he told Storrie about the likely season 2 renewal at season 1's premiere event, but the actor was skeptical.

"Until the pen is on paper, buddy," Storrie jokes. "Until the quill is on the will."

All episodes of *Heated Rivalry* season 1 are now available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.

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