The creator of HBO Max's Heated Rivalry has a polite but firm request for the show's fans: please stay away from the set.

Jacob Tierney, who created the series, published a written statement on 4 August 2026 asking viewers not to visit Season 2 filming locations while production is underway. "If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best," Tierney wrote. "We promise it'll be worth the wait!" (Variety)

The appeal is not without cause. Fans have been flocking to real-life locations used by the show since at least January 2026, when Variety reported viewers turning up at an ice rink that serves as a filming site. The production has used spots across Ontario, including Mansion Nightclub, the rooftop bar Lavelle, Le Tambour Tavern, and Dundurn Castle (Variety, 16 January 2026).

Season 2 is now filming in Toronto and is expected to premiere in April 2027 (Variety). Tierney and co-producer Brendan Brady first announced that target window in a March 2026 Instagram post, telling fans to "enjoy the yearn" in the meantime (Variety, 26 February 2026).

The show's first season, which premiered in late 2025, averaged 10.6 million viewers per episode — a figure that explains both the fan enthusiasm and the production's concern about disruptions. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie star as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two hockey players whose rivalry turns into romance (Variety).

As of June 2026, Canadian broadcaster Crave had not confirmed which cast members would return for Season 2, though executives expressed hope that the core ensemble would be back (Deadline, 4 June 2026). Actor Jack Innanen separately addressed reports that he had been offered a role in the new season but declined due to scheduling conflicts (Yahoo Entertainment, 12 June 2026).

The show's reach has extended well beyond its core audience. Kerry Washington said publicly she is "obsessed" with the series (Variety, 12 March 2026), and star Hudson Williams was slated to attend the 2026 Oscars ceremony (Variety, 10 March 2026). The official Heated Rivalry Instagram account has also run a fan contest offering airfare and hotel accommodations for a winner and guest (Instagram, 5 July 2026).

For fans, Tierney's message carries a straightforward trade-off. Keep your distance now, and the production can do its work uninterrupted. The wait is long — April 2027 is still eight months away. But the people making the show are asking for the room to make it.