Two fresh faces are set to make their debut in the world of “Heated Rivalry,” but the announcement of the Season 2 cast has triggered some backlash from fans looking for more accurate representation of body diversity from the books.
Crave officially revealed that the ensemble of the immensely popular hockey romance series will be broadening in its 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 selected to portray Troy Barrett, a forward for the Ottawa Centaurs. He has previously starred in the Netflix series “Julie and the Phantoms,” which was discontinued after its first season.
Smith, recognized 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.
Troy and Harris are the key figures in “Role Model,” the fifth book in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, upon which “Heated Rivalry” is based. Crave has indicated that the second season will maintain the focus on Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander from the first season, while also incorporating Troy and Harris’s narrative.
Director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady conveyed in the casting announcement, “From the onset of the casting process, we sought actors capable of delivering something truly exceptional and infusing that same depth and emotion onto the screen.”
A division in fan reactions has emerged following the announcement. While some fans are enthusiastic about the casting choices, others are expressing disappointment over Smith’s portrayal of Harris, citing a missed chance for greater inclusivity in body representation on screen.
BookTok content creator Taylor Layne, known as Taylor Just Reads, shared on TikTok her sorrow over the casting decision, emphasizing the loss of the book’s description of Harris as a character with a different physical appearance.
The comments on Crave’s social media posts unveiling the cast have been filled with fans expressing mixed sentiments. Some fans are thrilled about Smith’s participation, while others lament the missed opportunity for more diverse body types on screen.
The producers of “Heated Rivalry” were contacted for comment by CBC News but referred to the casting announcement instead.
Other fans are pointing out that controversy surrounded the casting of Ilya and Shane initially, but actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have since gained immense popularity due to the show’s global success.
Reid seemed to hint at this on Instagram over the weekend, sharing a selfie with a caption indicating her thoughts on the past criticisms of the casting for the show.
Smith expressed his enthusiasm for the role in an Instagram story post, acknowledging the support from fans and expressing his commitment to portraying the character effectively.
The second season is expected to premiere in Spring 2027, with filming already underway. Fans are eagerly following the developments, with sightings of Storrie and Williams in Toronto prompting a rush to purchase a reusable bag carried by Williams.
As production progresses, Tierney recently appealed to fans to give the cast and crew space at filming locations.
