Hulu's Perfect ‘Succession’ Replacement Is Returning in Just 3 Weeks

Published Oct 27, 2026, 7:18 AM EDT Taylor Vollman is a contributor at Collider. She has long quipped, “T.V. is my name, TV is my game.” Fortuitous initials aside, at the heart of a tired joke is a simple truth — she has a lifelong passion for television. And along with it, an affinity for movies, music and pop culture. In a childhood time capsule, she had listed Friends, PB&J Otter, and Days of Our Lives among her favorite shows. But her tastes have not narrowed with age. Her viewing habits span TV Land classics, network hits, buzzy reality shows and streamer critical darlings. Hoping to merge this passion with her love of writing, Taylor earned a bachelor’s in media arts and design with a minor in film studies from James Madison University. After working in marketing for years, she wanted to sharpen her skills and went on to graduate with a master’s in journalism from Georgetown University. Taylor has since pursued entertainment writing and reporting. It’s almost time to return to Rutshire and the hedonistic world of Rivals. It’s the perfect follow-up for fans of Succession, which centered on the Roy family as they battled each other and outside forces for control of their family’s media conglomerate. The series similarly feature the bad behavior of the rich elite, familial infighting, debate for morality on-air, and sexy affairs. Rivals is just weeks away from new episodes being released on Hulu and Disney+. The series is based on the Jilly Cooper novel of the same name, which was published in 1988. It also incorporates characters and elements from other novels in the 11-book series, The Rutshire Chronicles. What Is ‘Rivals’ About? Aptly titled, Rivals follows rival production companies bidding for the local television franchise — incumbent Corinium led by Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) versus the newly formed Venturer led by journalist Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner), former Olympian Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), and technology entrepreneur Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer). With a surprising number of William Butler Yeats references, they use the battle for the franchise to enact their personal vendettas while also getting a say in the ethics perpetuated on-air. Speaking to the ethos of the series, Reverend Fergus Penney (David Calder) said in Rivals’ second episode, “I was just remarking, what with there being a set in every living room these days, television companies must recognize that they are the custodians of the nation’s morality.” Set against the backdrop of the Cotswolds in the ‘80s, the series explores the fashion, music, and politics signature to the era with the added debaucherous flair of wealth. The series also delves into their personal lives, including crumbling marriages, secretive affairs, and even a fan-favorite age-gap romance. Its large cast also includes Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara, Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Luca Pasqualino as Bas Baddingham, and Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara. Season 2 also introduced Hayley Atwell as Rupert’s ex-wife and Rupert Everett as her current husband, Helen and Malise Gordon respectively. David Tennant Channels Logan Roy Disney+ Tennant channels Logan Roy (Brian Cox) in his deliciously evil turn as Tony Baddingham in Rivals. Cox played the Roy patriarch and founder of a conservative media conglomerate for four seasons in HBO’s Succession. Their similarities extend beyond just both working in television. Neither grew up in the immense wealth they have grown accustomed to and now prioritize the success of their companies above all else, including their families. And that success comes with moral failings, like sweeping sexual assaults under the rug or even themselves perpetuating abuse. Tony is married to Monica (Claire Rushbrook), sharing three children. Despite moments of fleeting devotion, the romance is stale and he’s quickly established as a serial philanderer. As he says in Rivals, “I need a sexual connection like breathing to prove that I'm alive.” In a departure from the book, Rivals incorporated the Great Storm of 1987 into its mid-season finale. More than being a period-accurate event, the dangerous storm reflected the internal conflict many of the characters are facing. And it came with permanent consequences, which in part include untethering Tony from his last bit of morality. Teasing its impact for the upcoming six episodes, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins told TVInsider, “We thought Tony was bad before. He gets worse, and that ups the stakes for the show.” While Tennant is likely best known for playing the tenth and fourteenth iterations of The Doctor on Doctor Who, Rivals isn’t his first outing as a villain. He previously played Barty Crouch, Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the mind-controlling Kilgrave in Marvel’s Jessica Jones. ‘Rivals’ Has Already Been Renewed for Season 3 Image via Disney+/Hulu Fans can rest assured, more over-the-top parties, polo matches, and behind-the-scenes scheming is in their future. Just days after its mid-season finale, Disney+ renewed Rivals for a third season. Like Season 2, it will consist of 12 episodes. As it teased: “As the dust settles post the scandalous revelations in Season Two, we see the stakes become higher and the alliances more fragile, with nothing staying buried for long. New romances blossom, old flames rekindle and shocking secrets will be spilled in this third series which takes everyone’s favorite rivalries to the next level. In a world of power, passion and betrayal, everyone has something to lose.” After an arduous five-month wait following the mid-season cliffhanger, Rivals will finally return for the remainder of Season 2. Its first half aired from May through June, with three new episodes set to premiere on November 11, 2026. The series is released on Disney+ Internationally and on Hulu in the United States. There’s still time to become immersed in the hedonistic world of Rivals, with only 14 episodes to watch before its return on November 11, 2026. The soapy series keeps the show flying by at a quick pace and brings an added flair to the drama of Succession. It’s the logical successor, no pun intended, with its exploration of the media politics, familial back-stabbing, and sardonic humor. Release Date October 18, 2024 Network Disney+ Directors Dee Koppang O'Leary, Alexandra Brodski, Elliot Hegarty Rivals unfolds in the thriving 1980s British television industry, where power struggles and personal entanglements dominate. Amidst the era's ambitious, ego-driven landscape, shifting loyalties and high-stakes negotiations define the careers of those involved, challenging notions of love and success within this volatile environment.