Quick summary
- A new behind-the-scenes photo of Hudson Williams in the makeup chair was shared on 9 November 2026 by co-star Sophie Nélisse, according to Attitude.
- Filming on season 2 of Heated Rivalry began in August 2026 in Toronto, with Williams and Connor Storrie returning.
- Deadline reports a Christmas special for Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, with filming to start in December and a cinema release in late 2027.
- Actor Jason Priestley has told Entertainment Tonight that the pair should keep their heads down and focus on the work.
Hudson Williams is back in the makeup chair, and the photo proving it has become the latest talking point around the Hudson Williams Heated Rivalry season 2 shoot. Co-star Sophie Nélisse posted the picture to her Instagram Story on 9 November 2026, Attitude reported, as cameras continue to roll on the second season of the hit series.
What the new set photo shows
Nélisse, who plays Rose Landry, shared a shot of Williams in a striped dressing gown with a dog in his lap, looking straight into the lens. It’s a small, unpolished glimpse of a production that has mostly stayed behind closed doors, and fans were quick to notice it.
Williams plays Shane Hollander opposite Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov. Both actors are reprising their roles for season 2. According to Attitude, filming started in August 2026 in Toronto, Canada.
In season 1, Nélisse’s Rose briefly dated Shane before becoming his close friend and confidante, Attitude notes. She is confirmed to return.
Seasons 2 and 3 may be shooting back to back
Attitude says reports are circulating that seasons 2 and 3 are being filmed consecutively in Toronto and other parts of Canada. A third season hasn’t been officially confirmed. The outlet adds that both Williams and Storrie have signed contracts covering three seasons, which would explain a back-to-back schedule if the reports are right.
Treat that as unconfirmed for now. Nobody involved with the production has announced a third season, and the details above come from Attitude’s account of those reports.
A Christmas special and a bigger cast
The same Attitude piece points to a Deadline report that a Christmas special featuring Scott Hunter and Kip Grady is in development. Filming is reported to begin in December, ahead of a cinema release in late 2027.
François Arnaud (Scott) and Robbie G.K. (Kip) are both confirmed to return in season 2. Before the Deadline story appeared, Arnaud had hinted at more for his character in an interview with WWD. “I can tell you that there’s more of Scott, but I can’t tell you in what capacity. There are various things at play,” he said.
New faces joining the season 2 cast include Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie, Daniel Diemer and Shaheen Jafargholi, with more still to be named, according to Attitude.
Jason Priestley’s advice on handling fame
The set photo arrives in the same week that another actor with experience of a runaway hit weighed in. Jason Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh across the 10 seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210, spoke to Entertainment Tonight in November 2026, as reported by Parade via Yahoo.
His advice to Williams and Storrie was plain. “What worked for me was just keeping my head down and focusing on the work and just trying to make every episode of your show as good as humanly possible, and that’s it. ‘Cause the rest of it’s out of your control,” he said.
Priestley, a hockey player himself, said he was pleased the show had drawn more attention to the sport, calling it “super exciting”. He also joked that he’d happily appear, though he wasn’t sure where he’d fit. “Maybe a coach, maybe a grandfather, something like that,” he said. Heated Rivalry premiered its first season in November 2025, so the series is only a year into its run.
What happens next
Season 2 is in production in Canada, and the Christmas special is reported to start filming in December. No release date for season 2 appeared in the sources reviewed for this article. Anything on a third season will need official confirmation before it can be treated as settled.
For more on the lead actor, see everything we publish about Hudson Williams, including our piece on what he said about Connor Storrie, or browse our TV & Dramas coverage.
Frequently asked questions
When did Heated Rivalry season 2 start filming?
Attitude reports that filming began in August 2026 in Toronto, Canada. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are back as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Is there a Heated Rivalry season 3?
Not officially. Attitude says a third season hasn’t been confirmed, though reports suggest seasons 2 and 3 are being filmed consecutively and that both leads signed three-season contracts.
Is there a Heated Rivalry Christmas special?
Deadline has reported one is in the works, featuring Scott Hunter and Kip Grady. Filming is reported to begin in December, with a cinema release in late 2027.
