Crave’s hockey romance “Heated Rivalry” is filming its next two seasons consecutively — plus a

Crave’s hockey romance “Heated Rivalry” is filming its next two seasons consecutively — plus a Christmas-themed feature film — while its popularity is at its peak, rather than leaving viewers waiting years between installments, ko.martincid.com reported, citing Deadline.

Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, writing in The Dish, reported that Seasons 2 and 3 will each run six episodes, like the first season, and that the movie is targeting a theatrical release rather than streaming. Crave told the outlet it had no projects to confirm.

Scott and Kip Star in the Holiday Film

The film’s leads surprised some fans: Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who play Ilya and Shane, will not appear in it. Instead, the story centers on Scott and Kip, played by François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. The choice has a literary basis — Rachel Reid, author of the bestselling “Game Changers” novels on which the series is based, already wrote the pair’s first Christmas together in the short story “Merry Christmas, Scott and Kip!”

Storrie, meanwhile, has been linked to another project: he has reportedly been in talks to play Marvel’s Ghost Rider opposite Ryan Gosling.

Theatrical Run Already Tested in Cinemas

The movie’s big-screen ambitions are already being tested. Regal screened Season 1 in two-episode blocks at Regal, AMC and Cinemark theaters in a limited release that Deadline reported grossed $420,000 across 880 theaters on Friday, with an estimated $1.3 million opening weekend. The series streams on HBO Max in the U.S. and in major markets abroad.

Season 2 Confirmed for Spring 2027

Season 2 is confirmed for spring 2027, with April the likely month. It follows the sixth book, “The Long Game,” continuing Shane and Ilya’s story, and introduces the couple Harris Draper and Troy Barrett, played by Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie. New cast members include Emily Hampshire, Brendan Morgan, David Tomlinson and Lauren Chan.

Filming on both seasons is scheduled to wrap in late November or early December; the film shoots in December and is planned for a theatrical release the following December. A leaked August cameo in which guest actor Dylan Walsh said they were filming 12 episodes fits the two six-episode seasons, and producer Jacob Tierney told SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen last month that Season 2 would again be six episodes and finish filming by year’s end.

Heated Rivalry Questions Fans Are Asking

The season is confirmed for spring 2027, with April the likely premiere month, according to ko martincid.com’s report.

François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. lead as Scott and Kip; Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams do not appear in the film.

Yes.

Season 2 arrives in spring 2027, and the holiday film is slated for theaters the December after it shoots.

More on Rivalry: Heated Rivalry: Two Six-Episode Seasons and a Christmas Movie Filming Back-to-Back (Deadline)