Crave has announced the addition of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie to the cast of the popular hockey romance series, Heated Rivalry, for its upcoming Season 2. Gillespie, known for his role in One Night Only and Julie and the Phantoms, will portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. Smith, recognized for his performances in I Saw the TV Glow and Pokémon Detective Pikachu, will take on the role of Harris Drover, the Centaurs’ social media manager.
The characters of Troy and Harris are central to the fifth book, Role Model, in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which serves as the basis for Heated Rivalry. The new season will continue to follow the main characters from Season 1, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while incorporating the storyline of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in the casting choices, emphasizing the actors’ ability to bring depth and authenticity to their characters. However, the announcement has sparked mixed reactions among fans. While some are excited about the new additions, others have raised concerns about the lack of body diversity representation in the casting, particularly in relation to Smith’s portrayal of Harris.
Fans have taken to social media platforms to share their thoughts, with some expressing disappointment over the departure from the book’s description of Harris as a character with a different body type. Despite the criticisms, many fans are looking forward to seeing how the new cast members will bring the characters to life on screen.
The second season of Heated Rivalry is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027, with filming already underway. The production team has urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s privacy during filming as excitement builds for the upcoming season.