jack innanen says he has had “some conversations” with the team behind Heated Rivalry as speculation grows around who could join the series for season two. The actor raised the possibility while speaking to Entertainment Tonight, but he did not confirm any casting decision. His comments come as fans continue to push his name for roles that could appear later in the story.
Jack Innanen on the Season 2 chatter
Innanen said he believes he would fit naturally into the series because of both his acting background and his hockey experience. “I’d be the perfect [fit] because I am down for anything – and I played hockey!” he said. He added that he has been keeping up his stick handling and even working on his hip mobility, suggesting he is taking the speculation seriously even while keeping the response playful.
When asked directly whether he had spoken to showrunner Jacob Tierney or the show’s leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, Innanen confirmed: “I’ve had some conversations. ” He did not go further when pressed on whether those talks meant he had secured a role, instead miming zipping his lips and saying: “Who knows?” That answer keeps jack innanen squarely in the conversation without locking in any announcement.
Why fans are watching closely
The interest around Innanen is tied to the way Heated Rivalry is expected to expand in season two. The series debuted in 2025 on Crave in Canada and Sky in the UK, and it follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as a long-running rivalry turns into a secret relationship. A second season is expected to draw from Rachel Reid’s follow-up novel, The Long Game.
After the renewal was confirmed, fans began suggesting Innanen for roles introduced later in the book series, especially Wyatt Hayes and Troy Barrett. Hayes is described as a teammate and close friend of Ilya, while Barrett leads a separate storyline within the same universe. The current chatter around jack innanen reflects that fan-driven casting momentum more than any official reveal.
What Innanen has already said before
In a previous Instagram Story, Innanen told fans he had seen the online speculation and made clear he was open to joining the project for season two. He said he was available for that second season and pointed to his Southern Ontario roots and hockey background, adding that he knew his way around a puck. He also joked about the rumors, leaning into the idea that fans were already imagining him inside the Heated Rivalry world.
He later extended the joke by describing a fictional version of the second season, but his latest comments are more restrained: he has had conversations, and that is where the certainty ends. For now, jack innanen remains one of the most watched names in the ongoing season-two discussion.
What comes next
The next development will likely come only if the production confirms new casting or if Innanen offers another update on the talks. Until then, the strongest fact on the record is that he has had conversations with the Heated Rivalry team, and fans will keep reading into every word. For now, jack innanen has kept the door open without stepping through it.
