The countdown to Heated Rivalry season 2 is on!
As casting news begins to unravel before cameras pick up later this year, Kaden Connors wants to reprise his role of Sasha in future episodes. In season 1, Sasha served as Ilya Rozanov's former lover and a close friend from his past in Russia.
This character was created for the TV show and doesn't appear in the books, but that's not stopping fans from manifesting Sasha's return in season 2. Although creator Jacob Tierney has said season 2 will be inspired from Rachel Reid's The Long Game, Connors hopes Sasha can serve as an integral part of the plot.
"I'd love to be back! There's a whole subculture in the fandom of people who are super pro-Sasha and wanting to see him back. There's definitely those people who are like, 'C'mon, he's messy!' He's a perfect mechanism for conflict. Listen, I'm open for all," Connors tells Out.
Heated Rivalry became a pop culture phenomenon once it premiered in November 2025 and the leading men of the series literally became household names overnight.
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are certainly living the good life by attending major A-list events this year, but the sudden rise to fame can certainly come with a lot of scrutiny and lack of privacy.
"I hope they're doing okay. Everyone knows what Heated Rivalry is! There's so much that comes with that. I can only imagine how overwhelming and stressful that could have been at times, but clearly, they're doing an incredible job. They have the right support around them."
Beyond Sasha's potential return in season 2, Connors is looking forward to seeing Ilya Rovanov and Shane Hollander's love story expand in future episodes, along with new faces that are introduced in The Long Game.
"There's so many new characters that are coming into play. When the kids marry them with the Ring Pop, I remember that was hands down my favorite moment in the whole book. I actually got emotional, because it just was so pure and precious. When you have kids involved, there's just that next level of innocence and purity about it. I'm looking forward to that scene in particular!"
While fans wait to see what's in store on Heated Rivalry, Connors is keeping himself busy by starring in a new comedy film Lunar Sway. The actor plays the ex-boyfriend of a small town guy who navigates the return of his estranged birth mother.
"Lunar Sway is such a quirky dive into the misadventures of this young guy who's figuring himself out and finding love in all the wrong places. I love it because it's a commentary, but it's not black and white. It definitely takes so many turns. It's very fun for a lot of viewers!"
The movie just wrapped a successful run at Brooklyn Film Festival and secured distribution for a US theatrical release later this year. To see the full interview with Kaden Connors, check out the video at the top of the page.
