Rivals season 2 mid-season trailer : what to expect
Disney dropped the mid-season trailer for Rivals Season 2 on June 8, 2026, and it already has us glued to our screens. If you've been tracking this British original since its first run on Hulu and Disney+, you know exactly why this release matters. The clip teases six brand-new episodes packed with drama, betrayal and the kind of chaos only Rutshire can produce.
What the Rivals season 2 mid-season trailer reveals
The footage pulls no punches. The contest between Tony Baddingham and Declan O'Hara for dominance over the Cotswolds reaches a boiling point, and Rupert Campbell-Black is forced to face some deeply personal demons he's clearly been dodging for too long. Alliances fracture, affairs unravel, and the secrets that hold Rutshire together start to crack wide open.
The trailer also showcases a string of vivid set pieces : hedonistic parties, a chaotic Bonfire Night, the Hampshire Hunt Ball, and a Christmas that looks anything but festive. These scenes signal that the second half of the season won't let up for a single episode.
At the center of it all, Taggie O'Hara must summon the courage to follow her heart while everyone around her crumbles under the weight of ambition and power. The mid-season finale left residents of Rutshire rocked by tragedy and scandal. This new batch of episodes picks up right there, with the battle between Venturer and Corinium reaching a breaking point.
Three new faces join the cast for this second half :
- Rachael Sterling as Araminta Pemberton, Lady Monica Baddingham's vampish younger sister
- Rupert Evans as David Hawkley, an erudite headmaster
- Santiago Cabrera as Alejandro Mendoza, an Argentinian polo legend
Each addition looks set to shake up the existing dynamics in ways the trailer only hints at. Santiago Cabrera's Alejandro Mendoza, in particular, brings an entirely new energy to the show's already combustible mix.
The creative team and origins behind the series
Rivals is produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios. The show carries an impressive roster of executive producers : Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, director Elliot Hegarty, and Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade, alongside the original novel's author, Dame Jilly Cooper herself. Eliza Mellor returns as Series Producer for this second season.
The writing team is notably large for a British production of this type. Eight writers contributed to the scripts, including Treadwell-Collins, Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo. Direction is shared between Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O'Leary.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Executive Producer | Dominic Treadwell-Collins |
| Executive Producer / Playwright | Laura Wade |
| Original Author / EP | Dame Jilly Cooper |
| Series Producer | Eliza Mellor |
| Commissioned by (Disney+ EMEA) | Lee Mason, VP Scripted Content |
The series draws from Jilly Cooper's bestselling Rutshire Chronicles, a beloved novel franchise that built a loyal readership over decades before making the leap to screen. The show was commissioned by Lee Mason, VP Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, a detail worth noting given how much the adaptation leans into its distinctly British roots while clearly targeting an international audience.
Where and when to watch the new episodes
The second half of Rivals Season 2 returns this November on Hulu in the United States, as well as on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. Internationally, the episodes land on Disney+. For those who want to catch up before the new episodes drop, Season 1 and the first six episodes of Season 2 are already available on both platforms right now.
Keeping track of what's available where is exactly the kind of thing we monitor closely. If you're planning your November watchlist and want to know what else is heading to Disney+, check out our full list of what's coming to Disney+ in July 2026 for a broader picture of the platform's upcoming catalogue.
One thing that stands out about this rollout is the split-season format. Disney opted to divide Season 2 into two blocks of six episodes each, a structure that clearly generates momentum around the mid-season break. It's a gamble that seems to be paying off : the trailer already generated significant chatter within hours of its release on June 8.
Why the second half of season 2 could be the show's best stretch yet
Splitting a season creates natural pressure. Writers know the second half carries the weight of resolving every thread left dangling, and from what the trailer suggests, the Rivals team has no intention of playing it safe. The introduction of three new characters mid-season is an ambitious move, especially when the existing cast is already juggling multiple storylines.
Rachael Sterling's Araminta Pemberton looks like a genuine wildcard. Adding a "vampish younger sister" to the Baddingham orbit right as tensions peak ? That's a deliberate escalation. Equally, Santiago Cabrera's polo-playing Argentinian brings a glamour and unpredictability that could disrupt Rupert Campbell-Black's arc in ways we're genuinely curious to see play out.
Keep an eye on our platform availability updates as the November premiere approaches. Knowing exactly where and how to stream new episodes the moment they land is what we do, and Rivals is absolutely one to track closely this autumn.