Per a Warner Bros. official press release, HBO Max will launch the romantic drama series Heated Rivalry with a two-episode premiere on Friday, November 28, available to viewers in both the U.S. and Australia. The six-episode season will continue with weekly releases, leading up to the finale on Friday, December 26. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s acclaimed Game Changers book series, the series delves into the intensity of ambition, passion, and romantic entanglements within the high-stakes world of professional hockey.
As stated by the official press release, Heated Rivalry was initially created for the Canadian streaming service Crave by award-winning writer, director, and producer Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny, Shoresy). The series centers on rising hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams, Heartstopper, Everything Now) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie, Ginny & Georgia, The Hardy Boys), whose secret romance as rookies unfolds over eight years, navigating love, personal growth, and the challenges of balancing their professional careers with their relationship.
According to the Warner Bros. official press release, the supporting cast includes François Arnaud (Midnight, Texas, The Borgias), Robbie G.K. (Rutherford Falls, The Wilds), Christina Chang (The Resident, 24), Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck, The Resident), Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief, The Kid Detective), and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova (The Queen’s Gambit, To the Ends of the Earth). Together, they bring emotional depth and nuance to the complex world where love, competition, and ambition collide.
Produced by Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Bell Media’s Crave and distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus, Heated Rivalry marks a new entry in HBO Max’s lineup of romance-driven dramas, according to the Warner Bros. official press release. The series combines high-stakes sports storytelling with emotional drama, offering both hockey enthusiasts and new audiences a compelling story filled with tension on and off the ice.
Heated Rivalry premieres November 28 on HBO Max, as confirmed by the Warner Bros. official press release.
The trailer is out now.