Bell Media Exec Teases Potential 'Heated Rivalry' Special Episode Before Season 2

Heated Rivalry season two is still a ways away, likely at least a full year from now.

However, an executive at Bell Media, the Canadian company that owns streamer Crave where the show was made, is speaking out about the possibility of a standalone episode before then!

Keep reading to find out more…

In a newly released interview about the hit show, Bell Media’s vice-president of content development and programming Justin Stockman said they would love to do a standalone ep or special if creator Jacob Tierney could work that out.

“We’re going to see what’s feasible. If [Jacob] can find a way to make the source material work in a way that gets us something sooner or something special, I’m sure he will,” Justin told Toronto Star. “I would love to have this back for the holidays next year, but that likely is not going to happen. We can’t rush the process. We won’t be able to repeat the magic if we push him.”

Many fans have reacted to this news with the hopes of the “Heated Rivalry” book’s “epilogue prologue,” as author Rachel Reid describes it, being adapted for the special, standalone episode.

In that portion of the book, which is at the end after the prologue, Shane and Ilya host a dinner at Shane’s house with his teammate and best friend Hayden Pike and his wife Jackie. It takes place three weeks before the epilogue. Learn more about it here!

Jacob also addressed the reaction to season one and working on season two with the Toronto Star.

“This isn’t what any of us expected and I’m endlessly grateful for it. But it’s the kind of noise that I have to drown out to make the next two seasons,” he said. “I have to keep trusting myself. I have to keep doing what I did in the first place. That’s the way you’re going to get a good season two. It’s important for me to go back to what I love about this and remember the story I’m telling.”

“Next two seasons”? It was previously revealed that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie originally signed on for three seasons of the show, though a third season has not been officially announced.

However, fans have speculated “The Long Game,” which will be the focus of season two, could be split into two seasons, OR, Rachel is currently working on a third Shane and Ilya book, which could be turned into season three!