Rivals is coming again for a second season — however is each forged member returning?
Based mostly on Jilly Cooper‘s novel of the identical identify, Disney+ and Hulu’s Rivals facilities round a feud between two males combating for management of a tv station in Eighties Britain. Rivals stars an ensemble forged made up of Aidan Turner, David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Bella MacLean, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, Victoria Smurfit, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
The primary season ended with a number of main cliffhangers after Declan (Turner), Rupert (Hassell) and Freddie’s (Dyer) Venturer beat out Tony’s (Tennant) Corinium for the franchise advice. Issues took a flip when Tony discovered about Cameron’s (Williams) relationship with Rupert and lashed out by attacking her. Cameron defended herself, and it stays unclear whether or not Tony continues to be alive by the top of the season 1 finale.
In the meantime, Declan had his personal points after his spouse, Maud (Smurfit), determined to go away for an appearing alternative. Declan will even probably find yourself at odds with Rupert after telling his good friend to not pursue something together with his daughter, Taggie (MacLean). Rupert broke that promise on the finish of the primary season when he lastly kissed Taggie regardless of being in a relationship with Cameron.
Disney has confirmed that season 2 is in manufacturing so maintain scrolling to search out out who’s filming:
Alex Hassell
What would Rivals be with out Rupert on the middle of all of it? Fortunately, we don’t have to search out out as a result of Hassell is reprising the function in season 2.
“I hope the street to real love is bumpy. I hope that Rupert isn’t modified too shortly and an excessive amount of,” he teased completely to Us Weekly in December 2024. “A part of the pleasure is what Rupert does and will get as much as …what a mischief maker he’s — on some degree — and that he has these big blind spots.”
David Tennant
A significant change from the ebook was Cameron beating up Tony as an alternative of the opposite manner round. The season 1 finale left Tony’s destiny unclear as he bled out in his workplace, with government producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins beforehand addressing whether or not Tony was really useless.
“There are such a lot of potentialities about what may occur, however what we do know is revenge is a dish greatest served on tv,” Collins informed TV Insider in October 2024.
Fortunately, viewers don’t have to attend till the present airs as a result of the official Rivals social media account teased Tennant’s attendance on the first forged script learn for season 2.
Aidan Turner
Declan — and his mustache — are returning for season 2 of Rivals.
“I used to be making an excuse with the showrunner Dominic [Treadwell-Collins]. I used to be saying, ‘I have to maintain this mustache for a number of weeks as a result of we’ve reshoots.’ And he stated, ‘OK, perhaps per week or so.’ And certain sufficient we did do some reshoots,” Turner recalled to Us in December 2024. “However I bear in mind on the time pondering, ‘I actually don’t wish to eliminate this.’ And when the reshoots had been achieved, I feel I saved it for an additional week after I didn’t have to.”
He added: “I form of lied to some associates saying that they could name us again for extra reshoots. I wasn’t able to eliminate it — and that’s by no means occurred to me earlier than. I feel the universe does inform us issues and there’s one thing in that. There’s a cause why I didn’t wish to eliminate it. I loved the present a lot and I actually responded to this character and I didn’t need the world to be over.”
Victoria Smurfit
Declan and Maud’s marriage reached a breaking level within the finale, however is that this the top?
“She’s sacrificed lots. It’s slowly dawning on Declan — it is available in waves the place he’ll get plenty of it after which he’ll form of attempt to shake it up due to the guilt and the disgrace that’s surrounded with that and get busy once more. Then it’ll come again once more,” Turner informed Us in December 2024. “It’s by the top of the season that it’s actually dawning on him the injury that he’s prompted.”
Turner wasn’t certain the place the story would go from right here.
“It at all times felt to me that Declan has a really sophisticated and sophisticated relationship together with his spouse and together with his household. However it at all times felt very actual to me. So I at all times had a door in that didn’t really feel like I wanted to battle for it. He is an effective man, primarily,” he famous. “He loves his household and he simply desires to be with him. However after all there’s ego and there’s all of those different issues that get sophisticated. Life is hard and sophisticated and never what you assume it’s going to be. It’s simply an understanding of that.”
Nafessa Williams
Three individuals stroll down a hallway in Rivals. Hulu
Williams was seen in footage from the script learn by way of in Might 2025. Earlier than the forged reunited, Us spoke to Turner concerning the probabilities of Cameron and Declan creating a romance.
“With the Cameron scenario, they work very effectively collectively. And within the [book], there’s a mission they’re each engaged on outdoors of the nation that brings them each away,” Turner shared with Us in December 2024. “And I feel their friendship and their relationship is put to the check. That’s all I can say. I don’t wish to say an excessive amount of.”
Bella Maclean
After ending season 1 on a cliffhanger for Rupert and Taggie, their story is simply getting began.
“I’m actually intrigued. There’s so many obstacles in our manner and Rupert is de facto conflicted morally. I’m wondering what is going to occur now with Taggie,” MacLean completely informed Us in December 2024. “It will likely be much more bumpy, however what which means for Taggie is a extremely fascinating factor. There’s a great deal of concepts being thrown round. We’ve acquired to get season 2 quick.”
Katherine Parkinson
Lizzie and Freddie spent all the first season combating their emotions for one another till they lastly slept collectively within the finale. Season 2 is anticipated to handle the aftermath since Lizzie is married to James whereas Freddie is married to Valerie.
Oliver Chris
Chris is anticipated to reprise his function as James within the second season.
Danny Dyer
The official Disney U.Ok account shared a behind-the-scenes photograph of Dyer on set of the second season.
Emily Atack
Season 1 launched Sarah as Paul’s (Rufus Jones) spouse who was usually untrue with Rupert and later James. She discovered that she’s anticipating a baby on the finish of season 1 — besides it’s unclear who the daddy is. Season 2 is anticipated to return to handle that.
Hayley Atwell
Atwell is now taking part in Helen Gordon a.ok.a Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mom of his two youngsters, Marcus and Tabitha. The function was initially portrayed by Anastasia Griffith.
Rupert Everett
Everett is ready to tackle the function of Helen’s husband Malise Gordon: Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.
