Rivals Season 2: Intimacy Scenes Were Treated Like Stunts | Collider BTS

Director and executive producer Elliot Hegarty and writer/executive producer Laura Wade break down how Disney+ and Hulu’s Rivals brings Jilly Cooper’s world to life, from filming ambitious one-take sequences to crafting the show’s intimate scenes with care and character-driven storytelling. In this exclusive Rivals interview, Hegarty and Wade discuss why they approached sex scenes like emotional dialogue, how the Rupert and Taggie relationship anchors the series, and why they wanted even longtime fans of the novels to be surprised by the adaptation. They also reveal the challenges behind filming the massive polo sequence with vintage cars, horses, dogs, and unpredictable English weather. The pair also dive into the show’s carefully designed 1980s aesthetic, avoiding visual clichés while still embracing the era’s bold style. Plus, they explain how music choices ranging from Motörhead to Kenny Loggins helped define the unique tone of the series. If you’re looking for Rivals behind-the-scenes stories, insights into adapting Jilly Cooper’s novels, or details on the show’s production and music, this conversation covers it all. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction – Making Rivals Feel Massive 0:25 Filming the Show’s Intimate Scenes 1:39 Rupert & Taggie’s Central Love Story 2:19 Changing the Books for Surprising Twists 3:18 The 15-Minute Kitchen One-Take 4:22 Shooting the Huge Polo Sequence 6:15 Avoiding 1980s Costume Clichés 8:09 Choosing the Perfect ’80s Music Cues Our Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/collider/ www.x.com/Collider Our Website https://www.collider.com Video By Maggie Lovitt & Dano GS For copyright matters, please contact us at: [email protected] #rivals #jillycooper #collider