Jacob Tierney has opened up about the initial pushback he faced for including sex scenes in Heated Rivalry season one.
Since its November premiere, the gay hockey romance series – starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams – has captured the undivided attention of gays, girls, and theys worldwide.
Based on Rachel Reid’s hit novel, Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), two elite professional hockey players who maintain a fierce rivalry on the ice while harboring a secret romantic relationship behind closed doors.
The official synopsis reads: “What begins as a secret fling between confused teenagers at 17 evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings off it.
“Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.”
Since its release, Heated Rivalry has become a smash hit thanks to its decade-spanning love story, carefully curated music and the undeniable chemistry between Storrie and Williams.
Yet the show’s most talked-about element has been its jaw-dropping NSFW content, with Shane and Ilya’s passionate trysts frequently going viral on social media.
While the series’ explicit gay sex scenes have arguably become its signature, they initially faced some pushback from studio executives during development.
In a recent interview with Slate, creator and writer Jacob Tierney reflected on pitching the series, revealing that a few high-ups suggested he hold off on showing Shane and Ilya’s intimate moments until season two.
“I was like, ‘What are you f**king talking about?! These books are porn. You think that the audience is here despite that? They’re here for this. This is what they want,'” he told the outlet.
Tierney added that he was glad he trusted his instincts: “I think that, had I followed the advice or the notes I was getting, I would have made a show that would have not pleased people, especially that core fan base. I certainly don’t think we would have gotten the reaction that we’re currently getting.”
The interview comes just a week after Crave and HBO Max — with the help of Storrie and Williams — confirmed that Heated Rivalry would be returning for a second season.
“Season two. Heated Rivalry. Confirmed,” Storrie exclaimed in an announcement video, with Williams teasing a “hotter, wetter, and longer” season.
While we’re still a ways off from season two, Tierney has hinted at what fans can expect in several interviews.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 46-year-old creator said: “We’re following Shane and Ilya. That’s not gonna be a shock. There’s certainly a possibility we’ll have additional resources, and we can do some things that we would want to do.”
In another chat with Gold Derby, Tierney addressed calls for a season longer than six episodes, giving fans an idea of what’s to come: “I don’t know if you’re going to get that. But you’re going to get a lot of content. Everyone’s pretty committed to this universe, in this world. So it’s going to be OK. It’s going to be good.”
The season one finale of Heated Rivalry airs on 26 December.
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