Logo text
Hot competition Showrunner Jacob Tierney teases the storylines and “new challenges” that will be the focus of Season 2 of the hockey romantic drama.
While speaking at a BookCon panel on Saturday, alongside book series author Rachel Reed, Tierney spoke candidly about Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Story) being “in more serious territory” in the second installment, scheduled for release next year.
“It’s different. It’s really different,” he said. “And the challenge of that, from an adaptation standpoint, is that you’re in more serious territory. A lot of the raw stuff — there’s still a lot of flirting and a lot of sex — but that kind of danger, that kind of sexual stuff in hotel rooms and teenagers has pretty much disappeared. And so it presents really new challenges.”
After Shane and Ellie confessed their love for each other at the end of Season 1, Season 2 – which will be the focus The long gamecontinuation of Hot competition In reid Game changer Series – sees a couple navigating a secret relationship.
But Tierney revealed that the season portion of the series, which is also co-written by Michael Goldbach, will include a portion of Role modelthe fifth book in the series. Role model It unfolds largely in conjunction with the plot The long gamefocusing on Ilya’s new Ottawa teammate, Troy, and the team’s social media manager, Harris, making the Russian hockey player a key part of the story.
“Part of the reason you started with it Hot competitionAs far as adaptation goes, because you want to get there The long game“, the presenter explained to the panel audience. “Because The long game It is an emotionally sophisticated book that takes this couple seriously. What I’ve always said about this show is that there are a lot of books – Game changer He is in Hot competition And obviously, as I think you all know by now – obviously parts of Role model We will be in [season two]to the great surprise of absolutely no one. But Elijah and Shane are the beating heart of this series and my show. It will always be about Elijah and Shane. This is the path they pass through as their world expands.
The realities and challenges that come with romantic relationships are something Tierney is particularly looking forward to unpacking in season two. He even remembers that the big fight between Shin and Elijah was one of his favorite moments The long game.
“There’s kind of a Bergman, what do you do after the rush of danger has passed and now you have to live in a relationship where you’re still not communicating properly, as much as you’d like to?” He said. “You can say you love each other, but as adults know, there’s more to making a relationship work.”
Tierney pointed this out The long game Not the only story ‘here to base this on something that feels very real’, but this Role model It also becomes very deep.
“Same with Troy and Harris, right. I think there’s a simple, easy way to look at it.” Role model Because it is so angry/sunshine, it is so apple orchard. “You can get carried away with the things you want,” he explained. “But Troy is a really damaged man. And Troy was completely damaged on the show. I would say we’re digging that a little harder. Because that’s what’s interesting.”
Hot competition The second season, from Canadian channel Crave and streaming on HBO Max in the United States, is scheduled to be released next year. Reed also previously announced that she would be publishing her seventh book, peerlessin Game changers The series will be released in June 2027.
