What to know
- The new casting lineup for Heated Rivalry season 2 includes stars Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, and Priyanka.
- Fans previously criticized the show for a lack of body diversity in its initial casting reveal.
- Heated Rivalry is praised for challenging masculinity in sports and mainstreaming Queer love stories.
- The second season is expected to premiere in Spring 2027, with excitement building around the new cast.
The Heated Rivalry universe is getting bigger, and its latest additions have fans — and some familiar Canadian faces — losing it.
Crave has unveiled another round of casting for season 2 of its hit queer hockey drama, with Priyanka, Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, Robert Naylor and Sabrina Jalees joining the lineup.
The announcement was quickly flooded with excited reactions, a notable shift from the debate that followed the show’s previous season 2 casting reveal.
Heated Rivalry, which follows rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they navigate a secret relationship, has become a breakout hit for its queer romance and portrayal of masculinity in professional sports.
Heated Rivalry was renewed for a second season and is expected to air in Spring 2027.
The show’s building momentum with casting lineup releases, but it received negative feedback on its first rollout, with some claiming that the casting for Harris was neither body-positive nor accurate to the book.
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Meet the new ‘Heated Rivalry’ season 2 cast
The new rollout has fans obsessed, with well-known actors Emily Hampshire and Edvin Ryding, and Whitby-born Drag Queen Priyanka, among other cast members.
Here’s the lineup:
- Emily Hampshire in the role of Vanessa
- Edvin Ryding in the role of Luca Haas
- Robert Naylor in the role of Wyatt Hayes
- Sabrina Jalees in the role of Farah Jalali
- Priyanka in the role of Tarek
‘ALL ICONIC’: Fans are obsessed with the casting
“YASSSSS Priyanka, THIS IS EVERYTHINGGGG,” one Instagram user celebrated.
“I knew Edvin would be the perfect Luca!!!! So excited, he’s gonna kill it,” another wrote.
“We’re getting Vanessa?! This is HUGE!!!” another said.
“Young Royals x HR crossover is real. Nature is healing,” one user said based on Ryding’s cast.
“ALL ICONIC,” another stated.
“I’m obsessed with this casting wow!” another user wrote.
Priyanka, Rachel Reid and Olivia Chow join the hype
Rachel Reid celebrated the new addition to the franchise cast on her story, saying “yessss,” and commented under the Crave Canada post, “The coolest cast!”
Priyanka also stated her excitement below the post, saying, “I’m so excited to be a part of the Heated Rivalry Universe,” and later posted on her story, “I’m gagged.”
Priyanka also posted on Instagram, which caught the attention of several well-known figures.
“So many Toronto stars,” Chow commented.
“Finally, we have someone hot on the show,” Reid added.
“WOWOOWOWOW,” Montreal singer Rêve wrote.
