‘Heated Rivalry’ to release in India; internationally acclaimed gay romance series to stream soon on Lionsgate Play

Are you all ready to go to the cottage? Heated Rivalry, the internationally acclaimed television series, is all set to scorch hearts in India soon. The hit Canadian romance series, created by Jacob Tierney, will premiere on Lionsgate Play in India on February 20.

A series that captures raw emotion and an authentic portrayal of queerness and ambition, Heated Rivalry follows the story of Ice Hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who get into a steamy secret relationship.

“At the centre of the storm are Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the most feared enemies in professional hockey. On the ice, they’re defined by bone-crushing hits, legendary trash talk, and a rivalry that electrifies every arena. But when the lights go down, hatred ignites into a clandestine, red-hot passion neither can outrun, risking everything they’ve spent their lives building. Late-night hotel room confessions, stolen moments, and the constant threat of exposure turn their affair into the most dangerous game where the difference between “I hate you” and “I need you” disappears entirely,” reads the logline.

Based on the Game Changer book series by Rachel Reid, the show stars Hudson Williams as the golden-boy Shane, while Connor Storrie plays the magnetic Ilya with charm, together creating chemistry that simmers and explodes on screen.

Hudson Williams, left, and Connor Storrie in a scene from ‘Heated Rivalry.’
| Photo Credit:
SABRINA LANTOS

In a statement, writer-director Tierney said, “During the pandemic, I stumbled across Rachel Reid’s books, and I devoured them all. I fell hard for Shane and Ilya. This was a story I didn’t know I needed in the most real way – smart, funny, sweeping, and deeply, unapologetically sexy. And what’s more, it was unapologetically gay. I was always looking for queer stories to tell, but Heated Rivalry reminded me of something I rarely saw: a happy ending. No tragic suicide, no terminal illness, no one giving up and pretending to be straight to be able to live only half a life. This book was bursting with unashamed queer joy. And still, I never actually thought I’d adapt it. Why? Maybe because, as much as I loved it and devoured it, I wasn’t sure anyone else would feel the same. Then the book landed on the front page of the Washington Post, and the author of that article echoed exactly how I felt. And I knew right then if someone else got the rights to the Game Changers series, I would absolutely lose my mind.”

He further added, “So now, here I am with Heated Rivalry as my baby. My passion project. There is nothing I wanted more than to bring this show to life, to introduce this shamelessly funny, glorious, epic, romantic story to the world. When I first spoke to Rachel Reid, I told her I wanted to take this book seriously. Because that’s what it deserves, that’s what Shane and Ilya deserve. And that’s what queer community deserves, a real, grounded, sexy and aspirational love story complete with the kind of happy ending gay people almost never get. Yes, you can be a hockey player. Yes, you can be the star of your own story. And yes, most importantly, you can fall in love and you can have your happy ending too.”

Heated Rivalry will be available in Hindi and English.