'Heated Rivalry' Season 2 finally gets release window as Lionsgate Play reveals theatrical-first plan
Fans of 'Heated Rivalry' have been on the edge of their seats since Lionsgate Play confirmed that the show has been renewed for Season 2. The sophomore season is expected to be available for streaming sometime in 2027, as per Variety. Anticipation is at an all-time high, and as work on the upcoming installment of the show is moving ahead at full steam, showrunner Jacob Tierney recently attended New York City for BookCon 2026, alongside the author of the source material, Rachel Reid. During a panel, Tierney addressed his approach to adapting Reid's 2022 novel 'The Long Game' for the upcoming second season. "Long Game is … so long, and it's so gamey, like eating venison. It really is different, and the challenge, from an adaptation standpoint, is you're in much more serious territory. There's still lots of flirting, and there's lots of sex, but it's this kind of danger. This kind of 'hotel room, adolescent sex' stuff is largely gone," he said.
'The Long Game' sheds light on the duo a decade into their relationship as they navigate going public with their romance. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will reprise their roles as Shane and Ilya, respectively, for the new season. Additionally, the streaming platform recently announced its theatrical release model for premium Hollywood films and series, with upwards of a hundred premieres scheduled for India in 2026. Lionsgate Play has decided that September 2026 will mark the beginning of its theatrical push. Under the new policy, 10-12 titles will be released in theaters first in India before being available on the streaming platform.
The films that have been selected to join the theatrical first-release slate in India include 'Empire City' starring Gerard Butler, 'Billion Dollar Spy' starring Russell Crowe, 'Primetime' featuring Robert Pattinson, the creature feature 'Titan', and Mark Wahlberg's 'By Any Means'. The rest of the slate also includes interesting titles to look forward to, such as Jason Statham's 'Mutiny', Butler's 'Greenland 2: Migration', 'Couture' featuring Angelina Jolie, Zac Efron's 'Famous', and 'The Rivals of Amziah King' featuring Matthew McConaughey. That's not all, as two new series have been greenlit as well, including a third season of 'Vigil' and the debut season of 'Apollo Has Fallen'. Lionsgate Play currently operates across eight markets in Asia and caters to approximately 40 million viewers in India, where it distributes its content via a B2B2C model. Lionsgate Play's business model closely ties it to other partners such as Airtel Xstream, Jio Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video.
