The team behind Heated Rivalry has one request for fans as Season 2 prepares to roll cameras: please do not show up at the set.

On Tuesday morning, the show's official Instagram account and creator Jacob Tierney's production company, Accent Aigu Entertainment, posted a graphic asking fans to give cast and crew space at filming locations expected this summer and fall. The message opened with gratitude: "Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness have meant the world to us." Then came the ask: "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" (The Hollywood Reporter).

The post promised the wait would be worth it and signed off as the "Heated Rivalry family." No specific incident was cited — the plea appears to be preventive, issued ahead of production rather than in response to a known disruption.

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian series from the streaming service Crave that airs on HBO Max in the United States. It premiered last November and centres on two rival hockey players: Canada-born Shane Hollander of the fictitious Montreal Metros, played by Hudson Williams, and Russia-born Ilya Rozanov of the fictitious Boston Raiders, played by Connor Storrie. Jacob Tierney created, wrote, and directed the series; its first season is based on the second novel in Rachel Reid's book series (The Hollywood Reporter).

Crave renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season early into the first season's run, and HBO Max confirmed it would continue to carry the show in the U.S. When that renewal landed in December 2025, new deals were also struck for Season 1, according to Deadline.

Season 2 will be based on Reid's novels The Long Game and Role Model, broadening the adaptation beyond a single book. Filming is expected through the summer and fall of 2026, with the show aiming for a spring 2027 release; The Hollywood Reporter reports a target of April 2027 (The Hollywood Reporter).

Excitement around the new season has been building for months. In late May, a casting call for new characters reportedly leaked online while production was said to be weeks away from starting, setting off fan speculation about who might join the cast (Star Observer).

For fans, the Instagram post is both a thank-you and a boundary. The show's popularity has turned filming locations into potential destinations for curious viewers. The production is asking them to watch from home instead.