The world of “Heated Rivalry” is set to welcome two new faces, with the casting announcement for Season 2 drawing mixed reactions from fans who were anticipating more accurate body diversity representation. Crave officially revealed that the cast of the immensely popular hockey romance series will be expanded to include Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie.
Gillespie, a talent from New Brunswick who recently starred in the film “One Night Only,” will portray Troy Barrett, a forward on the Ottawa Centaurs. He is also known for his role in the Netflix series “Julie and the Phantoms.” On the other hand, Justice Smith, recognized for his appearances in “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will take on the role of Harris Drover, the social media manager for the Centaurs.
Harris and Troy are pivotal characters from Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, prominently featured in the fifth book titled “Role Model,” which serves as the basis for the show “Heated Rivalry.” The second season is expected to continue the storyline of the main characters from the first season, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while incorporating the narrative of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in the casting choices, highlighting the actors’ ability to embody the essence of the characters. Despite the excitement from some fans, others have expressed disappointment over Smith’s casting as Harris, citing a missed opportunity for more inclusive representation of diverse body types.
The announcement has stirred a wave of reactions on social media, with fans sharing their contrasting views on the casting decisions. While some are enthusiastic about seeing Justice Smith in the series, others lament the deviation from the original character descriptions in the book, particularly applauding the opportunity for more body diversity representation.
As the production for Season 2 progresses, fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming release in Spring 2027, with filming already underway. The show’s creators have urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s privacy during filming, as excitement builds for the next installment of “Heated Rivalry.”