Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is set to introduce two new actors to its cast, a move that has sparked mixed reactions among fans anticipating more accurate representation of body diversity from the book. Crave, the streaming service, officially announced on Friday that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie will be joining the hit hockey romance series.
Charlie Gillespie, a talent from New Brunswick known for his role in One Night Only and the short-lived Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix, will take on the character of Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. Justice Smith, recognized for his performances in I Saw the TV Glow, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, will portray Harris Drover, the social media manager for the Centaurs.
The duo will embody the main characters from the fifth book of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, titled Role Model, transitioning the series to follow the lives of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander while incorporating the story of Troy and Harris. Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in Smith and Gillespie, emphasizing the actors’ ability to bring depth and authenticity to the characters.
Fans Divided
Although some fans are thrilled about the new additions to the cast, others have voiced disappointment over the choice of Justice Smith for the role of Harris, feeling it missed an opportunity to showcase a more diverse range of body types on screen.
One BookTok content creator, Taylor Layne, expressed sadness over the casting decision, highlighting the contrast between the book’s description of Harris and Smith’s appearance. Fans on Crave’s social media platforms have shared a mix of excitement and concern regarding the casting choices.
Notably, the casting of the original leads, Ilya and Shane, also received criticism initially, but actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have since gained immense popularity due to the show’s success.
With the new season set to premiere in Spring 2027 and filming already underway, fans eagerly await the unfolding developments. Jacob Tierney has urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s privacy during filming.