Season 2 of the popular hockey romance series Heated Rivalry is set to welcome two new actors, sparking a mix of excitement and criticism among fans. Crave announced the addition of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie to the cast on Friday.
Gillespie, known for his role in the film One Night Only and the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms, will portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. 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 Centaurs’ social media manager.
These characters, Troy and Harris, are pivotal in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series’ fifth book, Role Model, upon which Heated Rivalry is based. The new season will continue to follow the journeys of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander from the first season while intertwining Troy and Harris’s narrative.
In a statement, director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in the actors’ ability to bring depth and authenticity to the characters. “Justice and Charlie embody these roles with a profound understanding of Harris and Troy’s essence,” they stated.
Reaction from Fans
While some fans are thrilled about the casting news, others have raised concerns about the selection of Justice Smith as Harris, feeling it missed an opportunity to showcase more body diversity on screen. BookTok creator Taylor Layne, known as Taylor Just Reads, lamented the deviation from the book’s description of Harris and the missed representation of body diversity.
Comments on Crave’s social media posts unveiling the cast have been a mix of excitement and disappointment. Some fans praised Justice Smith’s talent, while others expressed a desire for more inclusive casting choices.
Producers of Heated Rivalry declined to comment when reached out by CBC News.
Notably, the initial casting of Ilya and Shane also drew criticism but led to the newfound fame of actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams following the show’s global success.
Author Rachel Reid hinted at this trend on Instagram over the weekend, reflecting on past skepticism about the casting choices for Ilya and Shane.
Smith expressed his gratitude for the fan support in an Instagram post, promising to honor the character of Harris. Filming for the second season has commenced, with a scheduled release in Spring 2027, generating anticipation among eager fans.
As the production progresses, director Jacob Tierney has urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s space during filming.
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