While many of us are still recovering from season 2’s mid-season finale and bracing ourselves for a mixture of emotions for the latter half of episodes to come, Rivals has officially been renewed for season 3.
The news likely won’t come as a surprise to any fan of the show, as it’s been a big hit for Disney+, becoming its biggest EMEA original premiere in the UK and Ireland.
The Dame Jilly Cooper adaptation is confirmed to be returning for a third season of 12 episodes – although whether that will similarly be split into two chunks as per season 2, we’ll just have to wait and see.
The staggered release of season 2 marks a change from the show’s premiere season, when all episodes landed at once. It’s certainly left us all on tenterhooks for what’s to come but opinion amongst fans has been divided, with some wanting episodes sooner rather than later and others appreciating the build-up of tension to come.
As for now, we can rest easy in the fact that despite not knowing how this second season will end, there’s plenty more to come.
On the announcement of the renewal of Rivals, Lee Mason, vice-president of scripted at Disney+ EMEA, commented: “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.”
Executive producer and chief creative officer of Happy Prince, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, and Alexander Lamb, creative director of Happy Prince, also said: “We’ve been delighted and overwhelmed by the audience’s response to season two of Rivals – testament to the hard work from everyone working on Rivals both on and off screen.
“Our one sadness is that Jilly didn’t get to witness the love for season two. But she’s still very much with us in sprit and would be so delighted that season three has been green lit. We’re so thrilled to continue to work with Disney as we dive deeper into the Rutshire Chronicles and expand the Cooperverse even further.”
There haven’t been any cast confirmations yet as for who will be returning – after all, that might give an indication as to what happens at the end of season 2.
The rest of the second season has now been confirmed to debut in November 2026, so that’s only five months until we see just how *that* tragic death impacts things.
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A synopsis for season 2 part 2 reads: “Following a shocking turn of events in the sixth episode, the residents of Rutshire are rocked by tragedy, scandal and betrayal as the battle between Venturer and Corinium reaches breaking point.
“As Tony Baddingham and Declan O’Hara’s contest for the Cotswolds crown hits a fever pitch, Rupert Campbell-Black is forced to confront his own personal demons. Across hedonistic parties, Bonfire Night chaos, the Hampshire Hunt Ball and a turbulent Christmas, affairs unravel, alliances fracture and rivalries intensify.
“Caught in the middle of the frenzied franchise battle, Taggie O’Hara must find the courage to follow her heart while everyone else faces the consequences of ambition, power and secrets that they can no longer hide.”
Rivals is available to stream on Disney+. Season 2 will continue in November. Sign up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.
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