Jacob Tierney, the creator, writer, director and executive producer of “Heated Rivalry,” and Brendan Brady, who is also an executive producer on the show, speak to “CBS Mornings” about the success, why it resonates with a diverse group of people and what to expect from its second season.

The unexpected friendship between Prince William and Tom Cruise has quietly become one of the most intriguing crossovers between palace and Hollywood.

A Royal Seal of Approval

While attending the BAFTA Film Awards in 2026, William was asked to name his favorite movie.

He confessed he might be “slightly biased,” before praising Top Gun: Maverick as one of the most impressive films he’s seen in years. 

Back at Adelaide Cottage, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are reportedly obsessed with the high-speed aerial scenes. 

William has admitted family movie nights often lean toward daring stunts over art-house drama much to his children’s delight.

Private Screenings and Red Carpet Moments

The bond between the royal aviator and Hollywood’s most fearless stuntman dates back to 2022, when William and Catherine were invited to a private IMAX screening ahead of the film’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Cruise personally arranged the preview after discovering William a trained RAF helicopter pilot was a longtime fan of the 1986 original.

Cameras caught them deep in conversation, with Cruise even offering a steadying hand to the Princess of Wales on the staircase.

Later, Cruise thanked the couple publicly, calling it a privilege to host them in the UK. 

At a 2024 fundraising gala, the future king jokingly warned his “fellow pilot” not to borrow the charity’s helicopters for the next installment of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, teasing that Cruise’s idea of “wear and tear” might differ from everyone else’s.

Cruise has also lent star power to William’s environmental initiative, the The Earthshot Prize, appearing via surprise video message and referring to the Prince as his “dear friend.”

The actor has  said they “have a lot in common,” citing their shared love of aviation and England. 

Brooklyn Beckham has a number of tattoo tributes whether for his actress wife Nicola Peltz, her family, and their life together in the United States.

But the seemingly inexhaustible inspiration she appears to provide has also extended to her Jewish heritage, with the influencer’s latest Instagram post revealing a tattooed Star of David on his left hand. 

The inking features a six pointed star comprised of two interlocking triangles as Brooklyn, 26, visited his wife while she worked on her latest TV project. 

Taking to social media, the cooking influencer shared a photo of his heavily tattooed hand clutching Nicola’s, the Star Of David prominent on his upper wrist, as they sat at a table littered with takeout coffee cups.

Captioning the image, he wrote: ‘Visiting my girl at editing.’ 

It comes after David shared a tribute to Cruz Beckham on his 21st birthday. 

What caught attention was David’s choice of words in Cruz’s tribute, which appeared to reference his eldest son’s decision to cut ties with the family.

The timing is significant, as the estrangement from their eldest child, Brooklyn, continues.

In a post filled with praise for the young musician, he wrote:

‘Happy 21st birthday to my little boy,’ he wrote. ‘Not so little anymore but the proudest thing that I am of you is the person and man that you have become, you are kind, considerate and fiercely loyal to your family, friends and everyone around you which makes you a very special person.

Signing off with a reference to his wife, he added: ‘Well done mum on bringing up another special young man.’

The musician’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel also wished a happy birthday to ‘her human’ alongside a recent image of Cruz.