The breakout series More Than Rivals (Heated Rivalry) may return sooner than expected with a standalone special episode while its highly anticipated second season is in development.
The wait for Season 2 of Más que rivales (Heated Rivalry) is shaping up to be a long one — at least a year, according to current projections — but recent comments from inside Bell Media have reignited fan excitement. The Canadian group, which owns streaming platform Crave, where the series is produced, has hinted at the possibility of releasing a special episode ahead of the show’s official return.
In a recent interview, Justin Stockman, Vice President of Content Development and Programming at Bell Media, confirmed that the idea is very much on the table. According to Stockman, the team would be delighted to develop a standalone episode or special chapter — provided that the show’s creator, Jacob Tierney, finds an organic way to integrate it into the narrative universe without compromising quality.
Stockman was clear that protecting the essence of the series remains the top priority. While he admitted he would love to see Heated Rivalry return over the upcoming holiday season, he was equally realistic: such a scenario is unlikely. The reasoning is simple. Rushing the creative process would risk undermining what made the series resonate so strongly in the first place. Recreating that magic, he stressed, is only possible if the creator’s rhythm is respected.
Unsurprisingly, these remarks triggered immediate speculation among fans. Attention quickly turned to what story could be adapted for a potential special episode, and one theory rose above the rest: bringing to screen the well-known “epilogue prologue” from the original novel by Rachel Reid.
Set shortly after the book’s epilogue, the scene follows Shane and Ilya as they host an intimate dinner at Shane’s house with his teammate and best friend Hayden Pike and Hayden’s wife, Jackie. Taking place just three weeks before the story’s definitive conclusion, the moment offers a domestic, emotional and deeply human snapshot of the couple’s relationship. For many fans, it represents the perfect foundation for a warm, character-driven special episode.
Tierney himself has also spoken about the unexpected impact of the first season and the pressure of continuing the story. Rather than being swept up in external noise, the creator explained that he needs to distance himself from expectations in order to keep telling the story from an honest place. Returning to what he loves about the project — and remembering which story he is actually telling — is, in his view, essential to building a strong second season.
One particularly intriguing detail from his comments did not go unnoticed: a reference to the “next two seasons”. While a third season has not yet been officially confirmed, it is known that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie originally signed on for three seasons, fuelling speculation about a long-term narrative arc.
That speculation gains further weight when considering the source material. Season 2 will adapt The Long Game, the direct continuation of Shane and Ilya’s story, and many fans believe its emotional complexity could justify being split across two seasons. Adding to that, Rachel Reid is currently working on a third novel centred on the couple, opening up even more possibilities for future adaptations.
In the meantime, the series is preparing to reach a new audience. Más que rivales (Heated Rivalry) will premiere in Spain on 5 February 2026 via Movistar Plus+, further expanding its international footprint and cementing its status as one of the most talked-about television romances of recent years.
The potential arrival of a special episode would serve as an emotional bridge between seasons — and as a clear signal of the platform’s confidence in a series that has exceeded all initial expectations. Unhurried but ambitious, the story of Shane and Ilya appears far from finished.
