Lead
Creator Jacob Tierney told Variety that although HBO Max has officially renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season, the team has not yet begun the necessary writing and production work, so a return could be more than a year away and may not arrive by 2026. The Canadian co-broadcaster Crave and HBO Max helped the show become a surprise mainstream hit, widening its audience beyond initial expectations. Executives and the creative team say they prefer a carefully staged comeback rather than rushing a follow-up to capitalize on current popularity. That cautious approach will shape the show’s timetable and promotional plan.
Key Takeaways
- Heated Rivalry has been renewed for season 2 by HBO Max and Canadian streamer Crave, but no production start date has been set.
- Jacob Tierney told Variety he wrote five episodes last year but has written none so far this year, signaling a longer prep period.
- Tierney warned the second season will not be rushed; he explicitly rejected producing a subpar follow-up for speed’s sake.
- HBO programming chief Casey Bloys said the series attracted a broader audience than expected, which increased pressure to get season 2 right.
- Industry observers expect at least a year of development and preproduction, making a late-2025 or later premiere possible; Tierney suggested it might not arrive in 2026.
Background
Heated Rivalry launched on HBO Max and on Canada’s Crave and quickly became one of the platform’s breakout dramas. Marketed as a romance centered on professional hockey players, the series drew critical attention for its character-driven storytelling and for expanding LGBTQ representation in a sports setting. The show’s popularity exceeded initial projections, converting what creators assumed might be a niche audience into a broad viewership across age and demographic groups.
That wider reception reshaped the stakes for season 2: networks and producers now face higher audience expectations, increased scrutiny from critics, and commercial pressure to maintain momentum. At the same time, creating a follow-up to a breakout hit requires careful script development, casting availability, and coordination with production crews—factors Tierney and HBO have cited as reasons to extend preproduction. Past premium-cable examples show that rushed renewals can harm reputations and viewer trust, a lesson the creative team says it wants to avoid.
Main Event
The central news is straightforward: HBO Max renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season, but creator Jacob Tierney told Variety the team still has significant groundwork to do before cameras roll. Tierney contrasted last year—when he wrote five episodes early—with the current moment, when he has yet to produce new scripts, indicating a slower ramp-up than fans might hope for. Production planning, scriptwriting and scheduling are all in progress but incomplete.
HBO’s chief content executive, Casey Bloys, framed the series’ success as broader than originally expected, noting it appealed beyond the show’s initial core audience. That expanded reach appears to have heightened internal caution: executives want to preserve the elements that drove the breakout while scaling the production to match larger viewership and promotional commitments. Those competing priorities explain why a quick turn-around is not guaranteed.
Tierney was explicit about avoiding a rushed second season: he said the creative team would not compromise quality simply to shorten the gap between seasons. He acknowledged the commercial desire to avoid lengthy delays—“we understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons”—but emphasized that hurrying story development risks a decline in quality. The result is a deliberate, if slower, production path.
Analysis & Implications
For HBO Max and Crave, the priority is twofold: preserve the creative integrity that won fans and translate that into sustainable audience growth. A carefully produced season 2 can solidify the show as a franchise property, drive subscriptions and support international licensing; conversely, a flawed follow-up could weaken audience trust and reduce the show’s cultural momentum. The balance between speed and quality will shape marketing spend, release windows and potential merchandising partnerships.
From a cultural standpoint, Heated Rivalry’s cross-demographic appeal strengthens calls for more mainstream storytelling featuring queer characters in traditionally masculine settings. If season 2 maintains the first season’s quality, it could further normalize diverse representation in sports dramas and influence commissioning decisions across streaming platforms. Producers and networks will likely weigh representation goals alongside commercial metrics when planning the new season.
Operationally, the show faces typical constraints: aligning cast availability, booking shooting locations and staging demanding hockey sequences require substantial lead time. The production’s need for authentic sports choreography and controlled rink environments increases logistical complexity and expense. Those factors, together with Tierney’s current writing progress, make a compressed schedule unlikely.
Comparison & Data
| Series | Gap Between Seasons |
|---|---|
| Euphoria (HBO) | 2019 → 2022 (3 years) |
| Heated Rivalry (HBO Max) | Renewed — no public production start as of interview |
The table above highlights one recent premium-cable example—Euphoria—that experienced a multi-year gap between seasons, a comparison Tierney invoked indirectly when discussing pacing and quality. While each series faces unique production demands, the Euphoria precedent illustrates how high-profile HBO properties sometimes accept longer waits to protect creative outcomes.
Reactions & Quotes
Industry reaction has been measured: executives emphasize quality control, while many fans express impatience on social platforms but remain supportive of a careful approach.
“It can’t be same time next year…this time last year I’d written five of these, and this time this year I’ve written zero of them. So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon.”
Jacob Tierney, creator (interview with Variety)
This remark from Tierney explains the production lag—he contrasts the rapid scripting pace of the prior year with his current pace, signaling that new episodes are not yet on the page. His comment was framed as a candid status update rather than a scheduling guarantee.
“I thought it would be kind of a very specific, maybe gay-only show, but it really is a broader audience than that.”
Casey Bloys, HBO programming chief
Bloys’ observation underscores how the show’s unexpected reach changes the stakes internally; executives now must manage expectations for a series that appeals beyond its initial niche. That shift contributes to the network’s preference for a deliberate production timetable.
Unconfirmed
- No official premiere date for season 2 has been announced; any specific release window beyond the creator’s comments remains unconfirmed.
- The final episode count and episode runtimes for season 2 have not been disclosed publicly.
- Specific production start dates, shooting locations and cast availability confirmations have not been released.
Bottom Line
Heated Rivalry’s season 2 is officially greenlit, but creators and executives are prioritizing careful development over speed. Jacob Tierney’s current writing status and HBO’s desire to protect the show’s quality make a rapid turnaround unlikely, and public comments suggest the next season could be more than a year away.
For viewers, that means tempering expectations for an immediate return while taking confidence that the team intends to preserve the elements that made the first season a crossover success. Fans should watch for formal production announcements from HBO Max, Crave, or the show’s production company, which will provide concrete dates when available.