Heated Rivalry actor puts Cameo account on ice after saying 12 new episodes may be coming
'I think we're doing 12 this time,' Dylan Walsh said on Cameo, fuelling fan speculation
Heated Rivalry actor Dylan Walsh is in the penalty box after he revealed that the hit hockey romance streaming series could be filming a dozen new episodes, leading to fan speculation that multiple seasons could be in the works.
Walsh, a 62-year-old American actor, made the comments in a video for Cameo — an online platform where celebrities record personalized videos for a fee. TikTok user Savannah Leigh later reposted the short video, which she says was sent to her as a birthday gift, on her own account.
But Walsh, who plays the father of hockey player Shane Hollander (Canadian actor Hudson Williams) on the show, may have delivered more than birthday wishes.
"I love doing Heated Rivalry. I didn't really do much in it, but I'm proud to be in it, and I wish every dad was as cool as Shane's dad. [The] world would be a better place," he said.
"Anyway, [I'm] getting ready to go back up to Canada and shoot some more episodes. So, I think we're doing 12 this time."
WATCH | Did Dylan Walsh tease even more Heated Rivalry is in the works? :The video may have been a game misconduct, because Walsh has appeared to deactivate his Cameo account.
Entertainment Weekly reported that his page displayed a message that read, "Stepping away because a video went viral that got me in trouble." But that message does not currently appear on the page.
A representative for the show has not yet replied to CBC News's inquiry about Walsh's comments.
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In addition to Heated Rivalry, Walsh has appeared in TV series such as Nip/Tuck, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Superman & Lois, as well as films like Congo (1995) and The Stepfather (2009).
His comments come amid a flurry of fan enthusiasm and commentary about the hit Canadian show, which is available on Bell Media's streaming platform Crave.
Last week, series creator and director Jacob Tierney had to appeal to fans for space at the show's production locations. Just days before, series fans rushed to Canadian Tire to buy a branded reusable tote bag after Williams was photographed carrying one around Toronto. The show also faced backlash earlier this week after announcing casting choices for Season 2, with some fans criticizing a lack of bodily diversity.
Good things come in threes?
Walsh's video triggered fan speculation on social media about the show's production, including theories that production is underway on the second and an unannounced third season.
"He didn't say 12 eps for season 2, he only said 12 eps which could mean they're filming season 2 and 3," one commenter wrote on Leigh's TikTok post.
Heated Rivalry's first season was six episodes long. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, Tierney said he can't imagine making more than six episodes per season.
"I don't need to do 10. I would always rather tighten the belt than get loosey-goosey," he said.
Heated Rivalry is based on the six-book Game Changers series by Canadian author Rachel Reid, and takes its title from the second installment. The show tells the story of rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Iyla Rozanov (American actor Connor Storrie), who enter into a secret romantic relationship.
The series was a massive success, winning dozens of awards, including a Peabody Award and a Canadian Screen Award for best drama series. Crave renewed it for a second season just weeks after its release in Nov. 2025.
Filming for the second season is primarily taking place in Toronto and Montreal, according to industry website Production List.
Show announces 5 new cast members
In an Instagram post Thursday, Crave Canada announced five new cast members for the show's second season.
Emily Hampshire will play Vanessa, Edvin Ryding will play Luca Haas, Robert Naylor will play Wyatt Hayes, Sabrina Jalees will play Farah Jalili, and Priyanka will play Tarek.
"I’m so excited to be a part of the Heated Rivalry universe,” commented Priyanka, a Canadian drag queen who won the first season of Canada's Drag Race.
"The coolest cast!" commented series author Reid.
With files from Helen Surgenor