Scripted

After the strong international buzz surrounding HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, the television industry may be witnessing the rise of a new scripted trend: hockey-centered romantic dramas targeting young adult audiences.

The latest title entering this growing niche is Off Campus, the upcoming Prime Video adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book saga, which combines collegiate sports drama, romance, friendship and coming-of-age storytelling — all ingredients that continue to perform strongly across streaming platforms.

Prime Video has officially launched the series on May 13, 2026, in more than 240 territories worldwide. The project is based on the internationally successful novels by Elle Kennedy, whose books have sold over 10 million copies globally and have been translated into more than 25 languages, demonstrating the increasingly strategic role of publishing IP in scripted television development.
Set within the world of elite college ice hockey, Off Campus follows the lives, relationships and emotional journeys of a university team and the women around them. The first season focuses on the “opposites attract” romance between Hannah, a reserved songwriter, and Garrett, Briar University’s charismatic hockey star.

While the tone differs from the more intense and emotionally charged dynamics explored in Heated Rivalry, both projects highlight how hockey is becoming an increasingly attractive narrative backdrop for romance-driven scripted content. The sport offers a combination of physicality, competitiveness, masculinity, vulnerability and team dynamics that aligns perfectly with the emotional storytelling audiences seek in contemporary relationship dramas.

At the same time, the rise of “sports romance” adaptations reflects a broader market movement. Streamers continue to invest heavily in female-skewing IP with built-in fanbases, particularly titles emerging from BookTok and online romance communities. The convergence between publishing, fandom culture and streaming platforms is now shaping a significant portion of YA and New Adult scripted development pipelines.

The cast of Off Campus includes Ella Bright (The Crown), Belmont Cameli (Saved by the Bell), Mika Abdalla (Sex Appeal), Antonio Cipriano (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Jalen Thomas Brooks (The Pitt), Josh Heuston (Dune: Prophecy) and Stephen Kalyn (Gen V).
The adaptation was created by Louisa Levy, who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Gina Fattore. Temple Hill’s Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and James Seidman executive produce, together with Leanna Billings and Neal Flaherty.