Rivals Season Two Premiere Date and Teaser Revealed
Hulu has announced that Rivals Season Two will debut on Friday, May 15. The UK Original returns in two six-episode batches: the first on May 15 with a three-episode premiere, and the second later in the year.
The second season of the Emmy- and BAFTA-winning series will be available to watch on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and internationally on Disney+.
The battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches a fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase. More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.
Amidst the hedonistic glamour of ’80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences.
As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested, and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?
Reprising their iconic roles are David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara, Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, and Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara.
The cast also includes Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones, Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton, Luca Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Hara, and Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson.
Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn, Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney as Patrick O’Hara, Lara Peake as Daysee Butler, and Bryony Hannah as Dierdre Kilpatrick round out the cast.
This season also sees the addition of new guest stars, including Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, and Rupert Everett as her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor. Further names joining the ensemble include Maxim Ays, Holly Cattle, Oliver Dench, Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Lockwood, Eliot Salt, and Jonny Weldon.
Rivals, made by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios, is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty, Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade, Rivals author Dame Jilly Cooper, and for Disney+, Jonny Richards. Eliza Mellor returns as Series Producer.
The series is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh, and Dare Aiyegbayo, and directed by Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson, and Dee Koppang O’Leary.
Rivals is based on the novel of the same name, part of Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles. The series was commissioned by VP Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason.
