Yes, ‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Really Headed to Movie Theaters

Have you been hoping to see Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov on the big screen? You’re in luck — Heated Rivalry, the hit Canadian hockey romance series, is officially heading to theaters for limited engagement marathon screenings, distributor Sphere Abacus announced Thursday morning.

The Crave original series, which airs on HBO Max in the U.S., is celebrating its one-year anniversary a little early, with screenings of all six episodes of the first season kicking off on Nov. 6. Sphere Abacus, the Bell Media company that helped bring the show international, partnered with Regal Cinemas in the U.S. for the release. Thursday’s announcement comes after speculation on social media throughout the week.

From Nov. 6 through Nov. 30, fans of the show can revisit the series across three paired episode screenings: episodes one and two (“Rookies” and “Olympians”), episodes three and four (“Hunter” and “Rose”) and episodes five and six (“I’ll Believe in Anything” and “The Cottage”). Tickets will run at $9.99 per screening.

Regal will show the episodes in over 275 of its own locations in the U.S. The company also serves as the nationwide distributor, bringing the show to 650 theaters including AMC and Cinemark. Regal showings will include welcome content from the cast and director, show creator Jacob Tierney. Participating locations will offer themed, limited-time cocktails: Summer in Montreal and Russians Don’t Blush.

“Heated Rivalry is a global phenomenon creating a rush of social media and press activity wherever it lands. We’re very excited to give audiences the opportunity to watch the drama unfold on big screens in North America, the UK, Australia & New Zealand,” Sphere Abacus’ executive director of global distribution and partnerships Hana Palmer said in a release.

Based on Rachel Reid’s novel of the same name, Heated Rivalry focuses on the complicated situationship between Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. The pair are generational talents in the world of professional hockey and sworn on-ice rivals, who meet as teenagers.

The first novel of Reid’s book series, Game Changers, which the novel Heated Rivalry hails from, centered on François Arnaud’s character Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K.’s character Kip Grady; it served as secondary material for the first season. The show’s season one cast was rounded out by Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.

Season two of the series is filming in Toronto, and features a slew of new cast members. Williams and Storrie return to front the series, with Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie, Daniel Diemer and Shaheen Jafargholi joining them in leading roles for the second season.

Tickets for Heated Rivalry‘s theatrical event are available at the box office and Regal’s website and mobile app.