The lineup of the popular series “Heated Rivalry” is heating up as three new actors join the cast for its upcoming second season. The show, produced by Bell Media’s Crave streaming service, gained international acclaim in its debut season of six episodes, attracting attention from HBO in the U.S. and abroad and propelling the careers of its main stars: Hudson Williams from British Columbia, Connor Storrie from the U.S., and François Arnaud from Quebec.
The fresh faces announced for the upcoming season are:
– Milla Jovovich, the Ukrainian-American actress known for her roles in the “Resident Evil” series and Luc Besson’s “The Fifth Element.”
– Kevin Zegers, hailing from Woodstock, Ontario, recognized for his appearances in the CW series “Gossip Girl,” Paramount+’s “The Madison,” and films like “Transamerica.”
– Paul Gross, a prominent figure in Canadian film, television, and theater, famous for his work in the CTV-CBS series “Due South” and the movies “Men With Brooms” and “Passchendaele,” which he also wrote and directed.
Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid, whose “Game Changers” books inspired the series, expressed excitement about the new cast additions. The show revolves around the clandestine relationship between two competitive ice hockey players, Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), as they navigate their burgeoning careers.
In the upcoming season, Paul Gross will portray hockey league commissioner Roger Crowell, Kevin Zegers will play Coach Wiebe leading the Ottawa Centaurs team that Rozanov joins, and Milla Jovovich will take on the role of Dr. Galina Molchalina, a therapist aiding Rozanov. Emily Hampshire from “Schitt’s Creek” will also feature in the new season as Vanessa, a supportive confidante to a character played by Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi.
The new season of “Heated Rivalry” will see a mix of returning and new Canadian talents, promising an exciting continuation of the series. The production team has revealed that filming for the second season has commenced, with the premiere scheduled for Spring 2027 on Crave.