‘Heated Rivalry’ Scores U.S. Premiere Date: Latest Updates on the Gay Hockey Romance Series
What To Know
- Heated Rivalry is a TV adaptation of Rachel Reid’s gay hockey romance novel.
- It follows the years-long secret relationship between rival players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
- The series premieres on Crave in November and will also get a U.S. release date.
Hockey romances have been popular in the book community for years, and at long last, they’re starting to make their way to the screen. Crave’s Heated Rivalry is first up. Based on Rachel Reid’s gay romance novel of the same name, the TV show was only going to be available in Canada at first. However, Heated Rivalry heard our calls for a U.S. release, and HBO Max has stepped up to the plate (or onto to the ice, rather).
Heated Rivalry follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). They meet as rookies, one from Canada and the other from Russia, and it doesn’t take long for them to enter a rivals-with-benefits arrangement. Their relationship unfolds over the course of nearly a decade, keeping it a secret for the sake of their careers.
“When I first spoke to Rachel Reid, I told her I wanted to approach this book with the care and seriousness it deserves, because it truly does,” said producer Jacob Tierney. “Shane and Ilya deserve that. And so does the queer community, a love story complete with the kind of happy ending gay people almost never get in media.”
Needless to say, we’ll be seated for Heated Rivalry. So, when and how can you watch Hollanov’s love story? Swooon has all the essential information about the adaptation below, including the cast, where to stream it, and more.
Sabrina Lantos
When is Heated Rivalry coming out?
It won’t be long until viewers can stream the series. The first two episodes launch on November 28. More details on the release schedule below.
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Where can you watch Heated Rivalry?
The six-episode show was at first only going to be available on Crave, a Canada-only streaming service, but on November 19, it was announced that HBO Max had picked it up. American and Australian subscribers will be able to watch the show starting on November 28, too. Episodes will drop at the same time on both streaming services.
What is Heated Rivalry’s release schedule?
After November 28, the next four episodes will be released weekly. Every Friday, viewers will get a new episode until the finale arrives on December 26.
The episode titles have also been released: “Rookies,” “Olympians,” “******” (see below), “Rose,” “I’ll Believe in Anything,” and “The Cottage.” Based on the episode names, it more or less sounds like the show will follow the book’s timeline.
What’s more, we know now why Episode 3’s name is being kept under wraps: It stands apart from the rest of the series. In an interview with Nuvo Magazine, actor Francois Arnaud revealed that the episode is focused solely on his character, Scott Hunter. Hunter is one of the top pro players in the Heated Rivalry world, and in Reid’s Game Changers series, he has his own book. Without spoiling anything, Hunter plays an important role in Shane and Ilya’s love story.
Arnaud gave some insight into the series, too. “I was reading the script, and I called my agent. I’m like, ‘Are you reading this? I don’t know that I can do this. This feels like porn,’” he said, laughing, before adding, “Heated Rivalry is charged, but it’s not shallow. It’s escapism in the best possible way.”
The actor explained that the show has a “joyous” tone. “I think gay stories very often come with so much trauma… There’s like a penance and a heaviness to it,” he said.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
The show’s official description sounds similar to the book: “Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery.”
The show charts their relationship over the next eight years, as they grapple with their careers and their growing feelings for each other. Can their love exist in their fiercely competitive world?
Who has been cast in Heated Rivalry?
The two leads will make you swoon. Hudson Williams is the no-nonsense Shane, who’s the Canadian captain of the Montreal Meteors. Connor Storrie is Ilya, the Russian star (and playboy) of the Boston Raiders.
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The rest of the cast includes Sophie Nélisse as actress Rose Landry, who enters a relationship with Shane. Arnaud is Scott Hunter, while Robbie Graham-Kuntz plays Kip Grady, Scott’s love interest. Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova appears as Svetlana, Ilya’s Russian friend and on-again-off-again hookup. Shane’s parents are played by Dylan Walsh and Christina Chang.
“Could not have dreamed of a better cast,” Reid wrote in an Instagram Story. “I’m so excited!”
Who is making Heated Rivalry?
Accent Aigu Entertainment’s Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady are behind the series. They’re known for the Canadian shows Letterkenny and Shoresy. The latter is centered around a fictional senior AAA hockey team, so these two aren’t strangers to hockey-centric stories.
Is there a Heated Rivalry trailer?
There is! Scroll to the top of the page to get your first glimpse of Shane and Ilya in action. What do you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments below!
Heated Rivalry, Season 1 Premiere, November 28, Crave & HBO Max
