In the realm of “Heated Rivalry,” two fresh faces are set to make their debut in Season 2, but the announcement of their casting has triggered mixed reactions from fans expecting more accurate representation of body diversity from the original book.
Crave officially disclosed that the ensemble cast of the immensely popular hockey romance will be broadening in the upcoming season with the addition of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie. Gillespie, originating from New Brunswick and recently featured in the film “One Night Only,” has been chosen to portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. He was previously seen in the Netflix series “Julie and the Phantoms,” which was discontinued following its first season.
Meanwhile, Smith, renowned for his performances in “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will be taking on the role of Harris Drover, who serves as the Centaurs’ social media manager. Harris and Troy are the pivotal characters in “Role Model,” the fifth installment in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, upon which the show “Heated Rivalry” is based. Crave has confirmed that the second season will continue following the storyline of the first season’s main figures, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while integrating the narrative of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady mentioned in the casting announcement that they sought actors who could uniquely bring depth and emotion to the characters, emphasizing that Justice and Charlie possess the ability to do just that by understanding the essence of Harris and Troy.
Despite the excitement from some fans over the casting news, others have expressed disappointment with Smith’s portrayal of Harris, feeling it misses an opportunity to showcase a more inclusive range of body types on screen. They mentioned the character’s description in the book and their personal connection to the representation of body diversity, particularly in a setting focused on athletic individuals.
The social media platforms featuring Crave’s casting updates have been inundated with comments reflecting diverse opinions. While some fans eagerly anticipate Justice Smith’s performance, others acknowledge the actor’s talent but express regret over the lack of representation in body types for romantic roles.
The producers of “Heated Rivalry” were contacted for comment by CBC News but directed inquiries to the casting announcement. The upcoming season, scheduled for release in Spring 2027, has already commenced filming, generating high anticipation among fans closely monitoring the progress. Director Jacob Tierney has requested fans to give the cast and crew space during filming, as excitement builds around the series’ development.