Two fresh faces are set to grace the screen in the upcoming Season 2 of the popular series, “Heated Rivalry,” eliciting mixed reactions from fans regarding the adherence to book-accurate body diversity. Crave officially announced the inclusion of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie in the cast on Friday.
Gillespie, a talent from New Brunswick known for his role in “One Night Only” and the Netflix series “Julie and the Phantoms,” will portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. On the other hand, Justice Smith, recognized for his performances in various productions like “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” will take on the character of Harris Drover, the social media manager for the Centaurs.
These characters, Troy and Harris, are pivotal figures from Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, particularly featured in the fifth book titled “Role Model,” on which the show “Heated Rivalry” is based. The second season will continue exploring the lives of the main characters from the first season, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while integrating the storyline of Troy and Harris.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady expressed their confidence in the casting selection, emphasizing the actors’ ability to capture the essence of the characters and bring depth to the screen.
While some fans eagerly anticipate the new additions, others have voiced disappointment over Smith’s portrayal of Harris, citing missed opportunities for inclusivity in body representation on screen. Concerns have been raised by fans, such as BookTok content creator Taylor Layne, who lamented the deviation from the book’s depiction of Harris as a character with a different body type.
Amid the fan reactions, comments on Crave’s social media platforms reflect a mixture of excitement and reservations regarding the casting choices. Some fans laud Justice Smith’s talent, while others express a desire for more representation in body types presented on screen.
The controversy surrounding the casting choices mirrors the initial skepticism when actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams were selected for the roles of Ilya and Shane, who have since become immensely popular following the show’s success.
As filming for the second season commences, fans eagerly anticipate its release in Spring 2027. The production team has urged fans to respect the cast and crew’s space on set as they work on bringing the next installment of “Heated Rivalry” to life.