Fans of the acclaimed Disney+ series Rivals have more raunchy drama to look forward to as the show has been officially renewed for a third season ahead of its second outing concluding later this year.
Thrilling Update Confirmed
Disney+ confirmed the exciting news today (Tuesday, 16th June), months before the final six episodes of Rivals season two arrive this November. The smash-hit streaming drama, based on the Rutshire Chronicles by Dame Jilly Cooper, premiered in 2024 and has kept viewers gripped and scandalised ever since.
What to Expect in Season 3
A synopsis teases: "As the dust settles post the scandalous revelations in season two, we see the stakes become higher and the alliances more fragile, with nothing staying buried for long. New romances blossom, old flames rekindle and shocking secrets will be spilled in this third series which takes everyone's favourite rivalries to the next level. In a world of power, passion and betrayal, everyone has something to lose."
Series Background
The series follows a fierce feud between two television studios, headed by Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner). Their competition to deliver the UK's best TV is matched only by the illicit affairs and constant backstabbing happening behind the scenes. Meanwhile, the antics of womanising Conservative MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) cause even more trouble, with Declan's young daughter Taggie (Bella Maclean) caught in the middle over her conflicted feelings for her father's new backer.
Production Team's Excitement
Disney+ EMEA's Vice President for scripted TV Lee Mason said in a statement: "The phenomenal response to Rivals is a credit to the bold, irreverent and endlessly entertaining world created by Dame Jilly Cooper, our cast, creative team and production partners at Happy Prince. We're delighted to be bringing audiences a third season on Disney+/Hulu. Expect more ambition, more romance, more rivalries and, of course, more scandal as we return to Rutshire for another irresistible chapter."
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Happy Prince's CCO, and Alexander Lamb, Creative Director, added they were "delighted and overwhelmed" by the response to season two. "Our one sadness is that Jilly didn't get to witness the love for season two," they continued. "But she's still very much with us in spirit and would be so delighted that season three has been green lit."
Casting and Release
Casting for the upcoming season is currently under wraps, but leads Hassell, Tennant and Turner are all likely to return alongside other key players such as Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Nafessa Williams and Victoria Smurfit. Fans could expect to see some more exciting newcomers announced over the coming months, as season two has seen the likes of Rupert Everett and Hayley Atwell making guest appearances.
Rivals season 2 continues this November on Disney+.
