Heated Rivalry fans have been wondering about the fate of Cliff Marleau ever since Season 2 began production. The character, played by Franco Lo Presti, was a memorable part of Season 1 as Ilya Rozanov‘s teammate and friend on the Boston Raiders. But when the returning cast list for the new season was revealed, Lo Presti’s name was not on it. That left a big question mark hanging over Cliff’s future in the Crave and HBO Max hockey romance series. Now, the actor himself has finally spoken about whether fans will see Cliff again.
Franco Lo Presti Responds To Cliff Marleau Season 2 Questions
Franco Lo Presti addressed the uncertainty around his character’s return in a recent interview with TV Insider. He did not give a simple yes or no answer. Instead, he gave a response that keeps the door open while asking viewers to stay tuned.
“All I can say is you’re just going to have to watch the show and see,” Lo Presti told TV Insider.
That answer suggests fans should not completely rule out a Cliff Marleau appearance in Season 2, even though he was not included in the official returning cast announcement. The actor’s phrasing leaves room for a possible surprise or a brief role that has not been publicly confirmed.
Why Cliff Marleau Was Not On The Returning Cast List
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is adapting Rachel Reid‘s novel The Long Game, which is the sixth book in her Game Changers series. In that story, Ilya leaves the Boston Raiders and moves to Canada to join the Ottawa Centaurs so he can be closer to Shane Hollander. Because Cliff Marleau was Ilya‘s teammate in Boston, his character has a much smaller role in the sequel book. The character does appear briefly in The Long Game, but he is not a central figure in the way he was during Season 1. That is the main reason why Lo Presti was not listed among the confirmed returning cast members when Crave and HBO Max announced the Season 2 lineup.
What Happens To Cliff Marleau In The Long Game Book
For viewers who have not read The Long Game, the book gives a clear picture of how Cliff fits into the next chapter of Shane and Ilya‘s story. Cliff appears during an All-Star Game scene. He knocks on Ilya‘s hotel room door, hoping to go clubbing with his former teammate. Ilya is busy sharing a private moment with Shane, so he does not answer the door in the way Cliff expects. Cliff does not know about Shane and Ilya‘s relationship at that point, so he simply leaves and goes on with his night. If the show follows the book closely, that is the scene where Cliff could appear in Season 2. Whether Franco Lo Presti filmed that scene or any other moment for the new season has not been confirmed by Crave or HBO Max.
Franco Lo Presti Looks Back On His Heated Rivalry Experience
Even with the uncertainty about Season 2, Lo Presti has nothing but good things to say about his time on Heated Rivalry. The actor grew up in a hockey-focused town in Canada, which helped him connect with Cliff‘s world right away.
“I grew up with a lot of hockey guys, so when the role came my way, I sat very comfortably in Cliff’s shoes,” he said. “I’ve got experience being in locker rooms. I know this guy. I know situations like that. So, being able to play Cliff, I’m going, ‘OK, it was meant to be. That was God’s plan,’ and I’m glad I got to put my spin on the character.”
Lo Presti also shared how special the show’s success has been for everyone involved.
“With Heated Rivalry, there was always something special from the day that I began filming,” he reflected. “There was an energy that really felt like it was something. So, when it blew up as it did, first and foremost, it was extremely deserved.”
He added that being part of the series was a privilege.
“Beyond such an incredible and beautiful story that needed to be told, the people behind it and the actors who committed themselves and the vulnerability that was shown — that is art,” he said. “And being able to be a piece of Ilya’s journey was just an absolute privilege. I am super happy to have been a part of it.”
New Roles And A Busy Year For Franco Lo Presti
Franco Lo Presti is not waiting around for Heated Rivalry news to keep him busy. He is joining the cast of Days of Our Lives as Dante Vitali, a billionaire Italian businessman who is engaged to Sami Brady. His first episode airs on Monday, September 14, 2026. Fans of the actor will get to see him in a very different kind of role while they wait for any Heated Rivalry updates.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Cast And Release Details
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is currently filming in Canada. Jacob Tierney returns as creator, writer, director, and executive producer, with Mike Goldbach joining as co-writer. The new season will premiere on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the United States, Australia, and Europe in April 2027, with an exact date still to be announced. The returning cast includes Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander, Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, François Arnaud as Scott Hunter, Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady, Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova, Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander, Dylan Walsh as David Hollander, Callan Potter as Hayden Pike, Kamilla Kowal as Jackie, and Benjamin Roy as JJ. New cast members for Season 2 include Justice Smith as Harris Drover, Charlie Gillespie as Troy Barrett, Daniel Diemer as Ryan Price, Shaheen Jafargholi as Fabian Salah, Emily Hampshire as Vanessa, Edvin Ryding as Luca Haas, Robert Naylor as Wyatt Hayes, Sabrina Jalees as Farah Jalali, and Priyanka as Tarek. Milla Jovovich also joins the cast as Dr. Galina Molchalina.
Related:
What To Expect From Heated Rivalry Season 2
The Long Game picks up with Shane and Ilya about ten years into their secret relationship. Ilya wants to tell the world about them, but Shane is worried about how coming out could affect their hockey careers. The hockey world is not known for being welcoming to queer players, and Shane is more hesitant than Ilya about going public. The season will follow the pair as they deal with their relationship, their careers, and the ongoing challenge of keeping their love hidden from the public eye. Jacob Tierney has said that Season 2 will also draw from Rachel Reid‘s fifth book, Role Model, giving the new episodes even more story material to work with.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry Parody Musical Recoups 500K Off Broadway Extends Run to January 2027
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