“Heated Rivalry” creator Jacob Tierney didn’t have to worry about fans visiting the filming locations for Season 1, since nobody had heard of the Canadian romance series before it blew up on HBO Max. Now, he’s asking super fans of the massively popular show to give the cast and crew space as they begin shooting Season 2.
“To our incredible fans and everyone who’s been sharing in the excitement for the show: Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness have meant the world to us. As we gear up for more ‘Heated Rivalry,’ please help us in making it the best it can be,” Tierney wrote. “If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best. We promise it’ll be worth the wait! Your ‘Heated Rivalry’ Family.”
After Season 1 of “Heated Rivalry” premiered in late 2025, the show became a smash hit and turned stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie — who play Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two hockey stars turned lovers — into overnight sensations. Season 2 has begun filming in Toronto and is expected to premiere in April 2027. The first season had an average of 10.6 million viewers per episode, with each episode delivering a larger audience than the one before it. The finale, which was released on Dec. 26, saw an increase of more than 300% compared to the premiere week audience.
Williams and Storrie became instant A-listers and attended the 2026 Academy Awards, attended fashions shows and even appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” They’ve also had run-ins with their new legions of fans. Last month, Williams was seen in a viral video angrily addressing fans who had followed him home to ask for autographs. Aside from “Heated Rivalry,” Williams is slated to star in the Canadian series “Yaga” and the limited series “The Altruists”; Storrie will next appear in Molly Gordon’s comedy “Peaked.”