Two fresh faces are set to make their debut in the world of “Heated Rivalry,” but the announcement of the Season 2 casting is stirring up some backlash among fans who were anticipating more body diversity in line with the books. Crave officially revealed on Friday that the ensemble of the immensely popular hockey romance series will be broadening with the addition of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie.
Gillespie, originating from New Brunswick and most recently seen in the film “One Night Only,” has been chosen to portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. He previously featured in Netflix’s “Julie and the Phantoms,” which was axed after its first season. Smith, recognized for his roles in “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will be stepping into the role of Harris Drover, the Centaurs’ social media manager.
Troy and Harris take center stage in “Role Model,” the fifth book in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, the source material for “Heated Rivalry.” Crave has disclosed that the forthcoming season will continue to follow the protagonists from the first season, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while integrating the narrative of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady conveyed in the casting announcement their quest for actors capable of delivering a remarkable performance and infusing depth and emotion into the characters. They praised Justice and Charlie for embodying the vulnerability and resilience inherent in Harris and Troy.
In response to the casting, while some fans are thrilled, others are expressing disappointment over Smith’s portrayal of Harris, citing a missed opportunity to showcase diverse body types on screen as described in the book. The reactions on Crave’s Instagram and TikTok posts unveiling the cast are a mix of excitement and concern.
Addressing the critics, Reid seemed to hint at the controversy surrounding the initial casting of Ilya and Shane, who later gained immense popularity due to the show’s global success. Smith, on the other hand, shared his eagerness to take on the role and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans.
The second season is scheduled for a Spring 2027 release, with filming already underway, generating anticipation among devoted fans. Tierney recently urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s space at filming locations as production progresses.