This ‘Adults' Star Turned Down a Role in ‘Heated Rivalry': Here's Why

After teasing that he's had some conversations about joining the Season 2 cast, Jack Innanen recently announced that he had to turn down a role in Heated Rivalry.

In April, the Adults actor said at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards that he had been working on his hip mobility in anticipation of possibly joining the show. However, at the Tribeca Festival premiere of Adults Season 2, the actor confirmed he wouldn't be joining the hockey drama series.

"It was too bad it didn't go that way," Innanen told PEOPLE.

Innanen has been a huge supporter of the series and said that he's "excited to see what they do with Season 2," calling the show's creator, Jacob Tierney, "incredible."

Entertainment Weekly speculated that Innanen may have had to decline the role in Heated Rivalry because of scheduling conflicts. He starred in the first season of Big Mistakes as Max, and it was recently confirmed that Innanen will reprise his character for Season 2.

However, hope might not be lost. With a third book following Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the works, Rachel Reid's Unrivaled is set to release next summer. When PEOPLE asked about possibly joining a third season of the series, Innanen said it could happen.

"Maybe Season 3, yeah," Innanen teased. "[We'll] see what they do."

It was recently confirmed that Heated Rivalry Season 2 will begin filming this summer, with a release date set for spring of 2027. According to Justin Stockman, Bell Media's VP of Global Content, the scripts are "coming together really well."

"I don't think anyone will be disappointed," Stockman told Deadline.

Ahead of Season 2's release, fans can support Rainbow Railroad and enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2027 premiere. The contest is available to enter through CharityBuzz.

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 10:48 PM.