"Heated Rivalry" Fans Are Sharing What They're Desperate To See Next Season, And The Theories Are Absolutely Wild

If you haven't seen Heated Rivalry yet, I urge you to drop everything and binge the entire season immediately. It's smutty, sporty, and smart. But above all, it's beautifully infused with love, tenderness, and heart.

For the remaining 99% who have seen the show and are eagerly waiting for more info about the second season, I have great news for you. The official release date for Season 2 has been announced: April 2027. Yup, that's right. And fans are elated!

This is what they're saying:

There has been speculation that the next season will be based on another book in the Game Changers series, and Connor Storrie seemed to confirm which one when he dropped this line in an interview with HBO: "Start reading The Long Game if you want to spoil it for yourselves."

So, for those who don't know, Rachel Reid's book The Long Game in her Game Changers series jumps 10 years into the future of Shane and Ilya's still-hidden love affair. It's time for them to decide whether to come forward with their relationship and maybe sacrifice their hockey careers, or let go of their love forever.

Even though that's what the book is all about, will the television show take the exact same route? Will we get flash-forwards and flashbacks spanning a decade-long love story? Well, here's what some of the cast and creators have said:

Before even beginning to write the script for Season 2, Jacob Teirey told Deadline, "Season 2 will be based around The Long Game. I don’t have details. I have not started writing, so I'm not just trying to be evasive. I genuinely don't know yet. I'm so lucky to have a whole world of books here to grab things from, to use, to add colour, to add context, to add story. I can tell you I'm really excited to get back to writing. I'm excited to get back into this world with them, and I'm looking forward to it."

He added, "Here's what I can say too, is that Heated Rivalry will always be centred around Shane and Ilya, this show. But we have a whole universe here, and so there's loads of other things that we're thinking about and that we're gonna explore and that we're gonna start to take more seriously now that we know that there's an audience for it. And that's pretty exciting, so I'm looking forward to really digging into this world."

But Jacob also hasn't been shy about how difficult it will be to adapt the book, telling Entertainment Weekly, "Long Game is…so long and it's so gamey, like eating venison. It really is different, and the challenge, from an adaptation standpoint, is you're in much more serious territory. There's still lots of flirting, and there's lots of sex, but it's this kind of danger. This kind of 'hotel room, adolescent sex' stuff is largely gone."

Rachel Reid, the author herself, told etalk, "I am, like, so excited to see what they're going to do with Season 2 because things just get, like, really messy. ... I mean, Connor has a lot to do in Season 2. It's going to be really challenging and really amazing, I think. I'm really interested to see how they portray Ilya and Shane in this, like, kind of new world that they're in where they're in a relationship and trying to figure it out, but still hiding. It's very messy." Messy is what we want, Rachel.

But the creators aren't the only stars who have thoughts on the new season. Hudson Williams was asked about what he's looking for in the new script, he told etalk, "I kinda just want to honour the scripts that Jacob will write. ... I've never gotten the chance to revisit a character before. I know that's something that really excites me and Connor [Storrie]. I think it's going to be fun. The summer camp vibe is definitely how that set feels, and I think I'm excited to swim in that and also just where the relationship grows. It feels very much like something I can just kind of pick up and then evolve, and that's going to be really rewarding."

Robbie G.K., the actor behind Kip Grady, told etalk he'd love to see the relationship between his character and Scott grow. He said, "I know there's a solid core that's really rooting for the 'Skip' relationship, and I'm hopeful that there'll be something that comes up that's able to, you know, satisfy those people and we can build that story more. And I would love a storyline where my dad and Scott Hunter could finally meet."

And even more cast members had opinions on Season 2. When Nadine Bhabha, the actor behind Elena Rygg, was asked about where she hopes to see Elena in the next season, she told etalk, "It would be nice to see Elena and Kip's friendship now that he's out in the open with his partner and just more friendship."

And that's just what we've heard from the cast and creators. Now it's time to turn to the viewers. Over on Reddit, Heated Rivalry fans are already flooding the internet with their predictions, wishlist storylines, and heartfelt hopes for what Season 2 might bring. As anticipation for the next chapter of the series that took the world by storm reaches an ultimate HIGH, fans are dissecting every clue and imagining every possibility. From long-awaited book moments to completely new twists, here's what they're hoping to see in Season 2:

"I was thinking Season 2 would work in Ryan and Fabian as a B story, and Ilya and Shane's story would pick up where Season 1 left off: Ilya signs with Ottawa, Hayden guesses about them, and Shane comes out to the team. The season could end with Shane and Ilya's wedding. Or Ilya collapsing in tears after Shane returns to Montreal shortly thereafter — depending on how much Jacob wants to torture folks. It would be a great way to end the season, followed by a montage of the wedding, Shane signing with Ottawa, them getting ready on day one of the new season, then skating onto the ice together — all set to an epic needle-drop song. Unfortunately, I feel like the ship has sailed on Scott and Kip."

—Efficient-Try-6956

"They could play with the timeline and spread the book over two seasons, then add Troy and Harris in the third season to pad it."

—Juliet_1982

"With the discussion from Jacob Tierney that they received a little more budget for the next season but not much, I don't think we'll see too many more episodes, but more cast and better pay for the existing cast and crew."

—clarasophia

"I think season 2 will end with the proposal for Shane and Ilya. Since it’s a good midpoint and when they become a healthier relationship again. It’s also a nice note to end a heavy season on since this is when both boys are at their worst. Maybe have the season start with the HR epilogue since we didn’t get that in Season 1, and it does have some great bits like them announcing the charity and Hayden finding out and starting to cover for them."

—Major-Tiger-7628

"The season could end at the proposal, which would be smart because then you'd get the plane drama and the miscommunication in the second season. Then the third season could center around Shane and Ilya being accidentally outed by Hayden’s video."

—Juliet_1982

But plot aside, one of the most frequently asked questions Jacob Tierney has been asked is whether the next season will have more smut than the first. And his answer has been the same every time he's been asked: There will be just as much smut, sexiness, and hot scenes as there were in Season 1.

Jacob Tierney told an interviewer at the Canadian Press Awards, "[There will be a] very similar level of spice. ... Yeah, we're doing it again, kids. We're getting the smutty band back together. It's going to be what you want it to be."

Now I want to hear from you! What kind of predictions do you want from Season 2 of Heated Rivalry? Drop your theories and wishlists in the comments.

And for more spoilers, check out our interview with Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid, where she spills Shane and Iyla's wedding song.

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Note: Some Reddit responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.