InFrame

Jack Innanen Confirms Talks With 'Heated Rivalry' Team As Season 2 Momentum Builds

Photo Credit: Jack Innanen / Instagram

by Chris Tremblay  Apr 8

Jack Innanen has publicly confirmed that he has been in contact with the team behind the hit queer hockey romance drama Heated Rivalry about a possible role in the show’s second season, telling Entertainment Tonight that “I’ve had some conversations. We’ve chatted.” The Canadian performer, known for the FX on Hulu comedy Adults and his online sketch work, made the comments during a red-carpet interview while promoting his new Netflix series Big Mistakes.



Pressed on whether those conversations meant he had formally joined the cast, Innanen declined to confirm any deal, reportedly gesturing that his lips were sealed and answering “Who knows?” when asked if he was booked for season two. In the same exchange, Entertainment Tonight’s video shows him laughing off direct questions about casting while reiterating his enthusiasm for the project and its creative team.

Innanen’s new comments build on months of social media and interview moments in which he has leaned into fan-driven casting campaigns positioning him as a dream addition to Heated Rivalry’s ensemble. Earlier in 2026, he posted a playful self‑taped message on Instagram directly addressing showrunner Jacob Tierney, saying he was “available for that second season, just putting that out there,” which was widely interpreted as a half‑joking, half‑serious audition.

Gay Times reported in January that Innanen had already acknowledged online fan casting, with the Adults star telling followers he had “seen the stuff on Twitter” and explicitly calling out Tierney by name to underline his interest, saying “Jacob Tierney, I’m available for season 2.” That earlier article noted that queer audiences and hockey-romance fans had repeatedly suggested Innanen for a future role, blending meme culture and genuine casting hopes in a way that reflects how fandom and industry now intersect.



In the April Entertainment Tonight segment, Innanen framed himself as an ideal fit for the series’ high-contact on-ice world, citing his real-life hockey background and ongoing training as evidence he could step into Heated Rivalry’s rink-ready universe. “I think I’m perfect for the show because I am down for anything. And I played hockey,” he said, before explaining that he has “got some mini sticks” and has been working on his stickhandling and hip mobility.

The video shows Innanen describing how he has been practicing off the ice while referencing star Hudson Williams’ physicality on the show as a model for the kind of movement he aims to emulate. Elite Daily noted that the actor’s emphasis on preparation, including joking about his “mini sticks,” has been well received by fans who appreciate both his comedic persona and the seriousness with which he appears to approach a potential role.

Heated Rivalry, adapted from Rachel Reid’s queer hockey romance novel of the same name, follows the slow-burn relationship between rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, offering one of the most high-profile recent examples of LGBTQ+ representation in sports-centered prestige television. The series, which airs on Crave in Canada and is distributed in the United States via HBO Max, has been praised for its emotionally layered depiction of gay athletes navigating professional pressures, internalized expectations, and evolving intimacy.



Gay Times recently highlighted the show’s explicit, boundary-pushing sex scenes and the openness of lead actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in discussing intimacy choreography and consent, noting they said they had “no boundaries” while filming within the agreed framework of the production. For many LGBTQ+ viewers, the series’ focus on desire, vulnerability, and athletic culture resonates as a rare combination of mainstream production values and unapologetically queer storytelling.

While Innanen’s casting remains uncertain, multiple outlets report that the second season of Heated Rivalry is firmly moving forward, with showrunner Jacob Tierney and the creative team currently at the writing stage. In an appearance on CBS Mornings with Gayle King, Tierney said that the writers’ room is active and that they are “getting ready to start shooting this summer,” emphasizing their desire to deliver new episodes “as soon as humanly possible.”

PinkNews and other outlets report that filming is expected to begin in August 2026, with a planned premiere in April 2027, giving fans a sense of the long-term timeline even as specific plot details are kept under wraps. The Editaires likewise notes that the intention is for season two to land in April 2027, with executive producer David Brady encouraging audiences to “enjoy the yearn” while they wait.



Despite widespread speculation and growing excitement about Innanen’s involvement, there has been no official confirmation from Crave, HBO Max, or the actor’s representatives that he will appear in season two. International Business Times reports that Entertainment Weekly reached out to both the network and Innanen’s team but did not receive any comment confirming his casting status.

Elite Daily similarly characterizes his involvement as “talks” rather than a done deal, stating that Innanen “has been in touch with the Heated Rivalry crew” but stopping short of describing any formal contract or role. In its reporting, International Business Times underscores that until an official announcement is made, “any claim about his involvement remains unverified,” even as fan theories continue to proliferate on social media platforms.

Innanen’s availability is a practical question alongside the creative speculation, as he is already attached to several projects aimed at overlapping audiences that include many LGBTQ+ viewers. Entertainment Tonight notes that season two of Adults, his FX on Hulu comedy series, is currently in the works, and that he is starring in Big Mistakes, the latest Netflix project from Canadian creator Dan Levy, which is set to stream from April 9.



The International Business Times article emphasizes that his Big Mistakes press tour has doubled as an unofficial platform for Heated Rivalry-related questions, suggesting that both entertainment journalists and fans view him as a natural fit within contemporary queer television landscapes. Elite Daily positions him as “one of the most prominent names put forth by the fandom” to join the series, further entrenching his association with the show even before any on-screen appearance.

Heated Rivalry’s growing cultural footprint sits within a broader wave of queer-inclusive sports narratives, and casting discussions around potential new characters—including the possibility of a role for Innanen—are unfolding in a community highly attuned to representation and power dynamics. Coverage in Gay Times and PinkNews has framed the series as part of an increasingly visible ecosystem of media in which gay and bisexual men, as well as other LGBTQ+ people, see their relationships and careers reflected with nuance.

In this environment, Innanen’s active engagement with fan fantasies—acknowledging online casting edits, posting directly to the showrunner, and now confirming actual conversations with the creative team—illustrates how performers can collaborate with queer fandoms without promising outcomes that remain beyond their sole control. International Business Times notes that while such hints fuel speculation, they also highlight the distinction between informal dialogue and contractual reality, especially in an industry where scheduling, budgeting, and narrative planning all shape casting decisions.



As of early April 2026, the confirmed facts are that Heated Rivalry season two is in active development, with writing underway and filming planned to start in August 2026 ahead of a targeted April 2027 release window, and that Jack Innanen has “had some conversations” with members of the show’s team about a possible role. What remains unconfirmed is any official casting announcement regarding Innanen or other new performers, as networks and representatives have declined to comment on whether negotiations have progressed to signed agreements.

For fans of LGBTQ+ storytelling, the intersection of these developments—concrete production timelines, evolving cast possibilities, and a creator team committed to continuing Shane and Ilya’s story—signals that Heated Rivalry is poised to maintain its visibility in queer culture for at least another television season. Until more concrete casting news arrives, however, Innanen’s exact role in that future remains an open question, framed by his own confirmed conversations and the hopes of a vocal, engaged queer fanbase.

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