Heated Rivalry Season 2 Update: Will Tom Hardy Join Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie?

The second season of Heated Rivalry is officially underway, with creator Jacob Tierney confirming that production will begin in August and the hit hockey romance will return to screens in 2027. Tierney, speaking on CBS Mornings, said the team is writing scripts now and promised fans the next chapter will arrive 'as soon as humanly possible,' placing Heated Rivalry Season 2 at the centre of renewed speculation and anticipation.

What makes the update significant is how quickly the announcement reshaped expectations for a series that amassed more than 10.5 million viewers per episode across the United States, according to figures released by Warner Bros. Discovery. The show's momentum—and the loyalty of its audience—mean every detail of Season 2 is dissected, celebrated, or contested. Some elements are confirmed, such as the production timeline, while others remain unverified or speculative. That uncertainty sets the stage for the conversation fans are having now: what Season 2 might become, and who might join it.

Tierney described the appeal of the first season as rooted in classic romance tradition, emphasising its focus on the love story between fictional rival athletes Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. He called the show 'very romantic,' citing its longings, obstacles and emotional intensity. Executive producer Brendan Brady echoed that sentiment, telling viewers to 'enjoy the yearn' while waiting for the next instalment. Their comments suggest the series will maintain its singular focus on the central relationship, offering little indication that its storytelling framework will broaden or shift.

Fan Buzz and Tom Hardy Rumour

A viral post on X this week claimed that Tom Hardy would be joining the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2, a claim that spread widely despite coming from a parody account, @tombrockhardy. The post used edited gym photos and a fabricated HuffPost link, accumulating nearly 1.8 million views in under 24 hours. Engagement ranged from jokes and memes to explicit reactions, illustrating how easily Hardy's name can ignite online discourse.

There is no confirmation from HBO Max, Crave, the producers or Hardy's representatives that he is involved. The source is known for creating satirical posts and has no credible connection to the series.

Part of why the rumour had such traction lies in Hardy's complicated and often-discussed media history. In 2010, during the press cycle for Inception, the actor gave an interview to NOW magazine—later cited by outlets including HuffPost and the Daily Mail—in which he made unusually candid remarks about past experiences and his sense of identity. His quotes about 'experimenting' when younger and having 'definite feminine qualities' have lived on in queer internet spaces for more than a decade. Those comments, combined with his physical roles and a wide fan base, ensure his name resurfaces whenever LGBTQ+ dramas are discussed.

But within the context of Heated Rivalry Season 2, the rumour remains groundless. The production has announced no new cast members, and the creative team has emphasised that the series' emotional core remains the relationship between the characters played by Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Any additional roles will emerge later in the process, once filming begins.

What's Confirmed and What Isn't

Beyond the production calendar and the creative team's general assurances, little is known about the narrative focus of the new season. There is no official synopsis, no hint of whether the story will explore the couple publicly navigating their relationship or whether external pressures—professional, personal or both—will drive the plot. The tone and scale of Season 2 remain open questions.

What is certain is that the writers are already at work, and the timeline places the series firmly on course for a 2027 release. With filming months away, more substantial details are unlikely to surface soon. That gap between what is confirmed and what fans hope for is, for now, where most of the conversation lives.