‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Set for 2027 as Lionsgate Play Pivots to Theatrical-First Hollywood Strategy in India

Home Film News Apr 20, 2026 1:41am PT ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Set for 2027 as Lionsgate Play Pivots to Theatrical-First Hollywood Strategy in India By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest Korea Box Office: ‘Salmokji : Whispering Water’ Maintains Command in Second Weekend 4 hours ago China Box Office: ‘It’s OK’ Retains Top Spot During Quiet Weekend 6 hours ago Microdrama Takes Center Stage at Cairns Crocodiles as FlareFlow Data Shows Australia Outperforming Global Markets (EXCLUSIVE) 6 hours ago See All sabrina lantos Lionsgate Play has confirmed a second season of “Heated Rivalry” for 2027, alongside a theatrical-first release model for a curated slate of premium Hollywood titles and more than 100 premieres lined up for India in 2026. The theatrical push, set to begin in September, will see 10–12 titles debut in Indian cinemas before arriving on the platform. Among the films earmarked for that window are Russell Crowe’s “Billion Dollar Spy,” Gerard Butler’s “Empire City,” Robert Pattinson‘s “Primetime,” Mark Wahlberg’s “By Any Means,” and snake creature feature “Titan.” The wider 2026 lineup is also heavy on high-profile Hollywood talent. Butler returns in “Greenland 2: Migration,” joined by Jason Statham in “Mutiny,” Angelina Jolie in “Couture,” Zac Efron in “Famous,” and Matthew McConaughey in “The Rivals of Amziah King.” The franchise side of the slate grows with “Apollo Has Fallen” and a third season of “Vigil.” Popular on Variety “Over the past few years, we’ve built Lionsgate Play into a destination for bold, high-impact storytelling,” said Rohit Jain, who acquired the platform from Lionsgate earlier this year following an eight-year tenure as its Asia president. “In 2026, we’re delivering on that vision at full scale, with 100+ premieres, returning franchises, and now, the big screen itself under one roof.” Lionsgate Play operates across eight Asian markets and reaches more than 40 million viewers in India, where it distributes primarily through a B2B2C model via partners including JioHotstar, Airtel Xstream, and Amazon Prime Video Channels. The platform, which focuses on Hollywood content alongside regional originals, operates under a multi-year licensing agreement with Lionsgate covering branding and content. Read More About: Angelina Jolie, Heated Rivalry, Lionsgate Play, Robert Pattinson Jump to Comments More from Variety Quentin Tarantino Fires Back at Rosanna Arquette for Criticizing His N-Word Use in Movies: ‘A Decided Lack of Class, No Less Honor’ Pete Hegseth Says ‘The Sooner David Ellison Takes Over’ CNN ‘the Better’ in Slamming Outlet’s Report That Trump Administration ‘Underestimated’ Iran Attack’s Impact on Strait of Hormuz Pete Hegseth Quotes ‘Pulp Fiction’ Fake Bible Verse at Pentagon Prayer Service Trump and Pete Hegseth Try to Justify Iran War on ‘SNL’: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Doing’ Stephen Hibbert, TV Comedy Writer and Actor Who Played the Gimp in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ Dies at 68 Loading comments...