Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie in “Heated Rivalry”
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max, recently confirmed that renewing the Heated Rivalry series for a second season was “one of the simplest decisions of the year.”
Despite being an international acquisition—produced by Canada’s Bell Media/Crave and Accent Aigu Entertainment rather than being an HBO original—its performance has fundamentally shifted how the service views acquired content.
According to internal data, the series has outpaced almost every other non-animated acquired title in the platform’s history, quickly becoming the #1 most-watched acquisition on Max since its launch.
During a press event in late 2025, Bloys leaned into the “strategic surprise” of the show’s success:
“We look at acquisitions as a way to supplement our core brand, but Heated Rivalry didn’t just supplement the schedule—it dominated it. The engagement metrics we’re seeing aren’t just high; they’re ‘prestige-level’ high. It proves that when you find a story with this much heart and a fanbase this dedicated, the label on the production—whether it’s an ‘HBO Original’ or a ‘Crave Original’—doesn’t matter to the audience. They just want Shane and Ilya.”
The decision to renew comes on the heels of several record-breaking metrics for the 2025-2026 season.
It ranked as a top-five scripted debut on Max for 2025, rivaling high-budget originals like It: Welcome to Derry.
The show saw a staggering 400% growth in viewership within its first seven days of streaming, largely driven by a massive “Team Hollanov” presence on social media.
Beyond the numbers, Bloys noted that the series maintained a “90%+ sentiment rating,” a rarity for acquired romantic dramas which often struggle to find a broad audience outside their home territory.
While HBO Max (soon to be Max globally) handles the U.S. and international distribution, they will remain “creatively hands-off,” allowing the original Canadian team led by Jacob Tierney to maintain the show’s specific tone.
Season 2 is expected to adapt The Long Game, the sixth book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series.
Production is slated to begin in the summer of 2026, with stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie already signed on for a three-season arc.
