Disney+ has revealed more cast for Rivals season 2

The cast list for Rivals season 2 is even longer now as Hayley Atwell (‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Agent Carter’) and Rupert Everett (‘Napoleon’, ‘My Policeman’) have joined, as well as a host of other names (all listed in the press release). Atwell will be playing Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, Marcus and Tabitha. Everett is set to take on the role of her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.

Additional cast include Maxim Ays (‘Boarders’, ‘Sanditon’), Holly Cattle (‘Young Sherlock’, ‘Mr Loverman’), Oliver Dench (‘Hotel Portofino’,  ‘Domina’), Amanda Lawrence (‘Malory Towers, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Bobby Lockwood (‘Wolfblood, Here We Go’), Eliot Salt (‘Slow Horses’, ‘Normal People’), and Jonny Weldon (‘One Day’, ‘Brassic’).

What is Rivals season 2 about?

In slightly florid prose, the press release tells us:

Rivals returns with an extended season of twelve episodes — and even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists. As power struggles escalate and rivalries deepen, ambition drives every move, pushing loyalties to the edge. 

Set against the backdrop of the stunning Cotswolds countryside and the glamorous, high-stakes world of 1980s British television, the second instalment will see the return of the all-star cast that won the hearts of fans and critics alike as well as introducing brand new faces. 

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. 

Production is underway in the UK. Expect a lot more publicity ahead of (we assume) a 2026 release (we’d be happy were it to creep into late 2025). As ever, we’ll keep you posted.