The Cotswolds are welcoming a lot of new characters in Rivals Season 2 as multiple new cast members join the drama’s ensemble. Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett will join the series, based on the Rutshire Chronicles best-selling novel of the same name by Dame Jilly Cooper, in guest-starring roles.
Atwell joins Rivals in a recast, as she will play Helen Gordon, Rupert Cambell-Black’s ex-wife and the mother of his two children, Marcus and Tabitha. Anastasia Griffith portrayed that character in two episodes of Rivals‘ debut season. Meanwhile, Everett will take on the role of Helen’s husband, Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.
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Who Is Joining Rivals Season 2?
Executive producer and showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins announced the casting at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Given the characters’ connections to Rupert, the characters appearing in the new season coincided with Treadwell-Collins sharing that Season 2 will dive deeper into Campbell-Black’s past, including his history with polo. Treadwell-Collins didn’t share much more about the season, but does confirm the show has filmed six of its 12 episodes already.
“We are utterly thrilled to have Hayley and Rupert join us to play Jilly Cooper’s legendary characters Helen and Malise Gordon. Alongside our other new wonderful actors and truly brilliant returning cast, Rivals series two absolutely showcases the best of British and Irish talent. With further exciting guest stars to be announced, we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next for the residents of Rutshire,” Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Chief Creative Officer of Happy Prince, and Alexander Lamb, Creative Director of Happy Prince, said in a statement.
Lee Mason, Executive Director of Scripted Originals, EMEA Disney+, added, “Rivals is a landmark series for Disney+, quickly becoming one of our most beloved British UK Original dramas. I’m delighted to welcome Hayley and Rupert to our extraordinary family of actors. They are a perfect match for the world of Rutshire, so lovingly created by Dame Jilly and the team at Happy Prince.”
The other cast members joining Rivals Season 2 include Maxim Ays, Holly Cattle, Oliver Dench, Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Lockwood, Eliot Salt, and Jonny Weldon. Their roles are currently under wraps.
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Who Is Returning for Rivals Season 2?
They join the returning cast of David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit, Claire Rushbrook, Oliver Chris, Lisa McGrillis, Emily Atack, Rufus Jones, Luca Pasqualino, Catriona Chandler, and Annabel Scholey.
The returning ensemble also includes Wendy Albiston, Jamie Bisping, Denise Black, Timothy Blore, Hubert Burton, Antony Byrne, David Calder, Nino Furuhata, Selina Griffiths, Bryony Hannah, Rich Keeble, Gilbert Kyem Jnr, Gary Lamont, Louis Landau, Charlotte Mangel, Brendan Patricks, Lara Peake, Olivia Poulet, Gary Shelford, Emma Shipp, Guy Siner, Maggie Steed, Dan Tetsall, and Gabriel Tierney. Principal photography for the extended twelve-episode sophomore season is underway in the UK.
In Rivals Season 2, “Careers, marriages, and reputations hang in the balance as personal and professional lives collide in a world where secrets can’t stay hidden for long. Bold, emotionally charged, and filled with unforgettable moments, Rivals is a thrilling ride through a landscape of breathtaking beauty, fierce competition, and life-changing decisions—where the cost of success could be everything.”
The show’s executive producers include Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty, Laura Wade, Rivals author Dame Jilly Cooper, and, for Disney+ EMEA Scripted Content, Jonny Richards. Eliza Mellor serves as Series Producer. Rivals is written by Treadwell-Collins, Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Kefi Chadwick, Mimi Hare and Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo. The season’s directors are Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson, and Dee Koppang O’Leary. The Executive Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason, commissioned the series.
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Are you excited about Rivals Season 2? Let us know in the comments below!
Rivals Season 2 will stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
