Two fresh faces are set to join the world of Heated Rivalry as the casting announcement for Season 2 has stirred up some debate among fans who were anticipating more accurate representation of body diversity from the books.
Crave officially disclosed on Friday that the lineup for the immensely popular hockey romance will be broadening in its upcoming season with the addition of Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie.
Hailing from New Brunswick and recently featured in the film One Night Only, Gillespie is cast to portray Troy Barrett, a forward on the Ottawa Centaurs. He was also part of the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms, which was canceled after a single season.
Known for his roles in I Saw the TV Glow, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Smith will be taking on the role of Harris Drover, the social media manager for the Centaurs.
Troy and Harris serve as the central characters in Role Model, the fifth book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, upon which the show Heated Rivalry is based. Crave has indicated that the second season will continue to follow the storyline of the main characters from the first season, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, while integrating the narrative of Troy and Harris.
“Right from the outset of the casting process, we were seeking actors who could craft something truly unique together and bring that same level of depth and emotion to the screen,” expressed director Jacob Tierney and producer Brendan Brady in the casting announcement.
“Justice and Charlie embody just that. They immediately grasped the vulnerability and strength at the core of these characters, displaying an innate understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”
Fan Reactions Vary
While some fans are thrilled by the news, others have voiced disappointment over Smith’s casting as Harris, seeing it as a missed opportunity for greater inclusivity in showcasing diverse body types as desirable on screen.
“Harris, as described in the book, considers himself slightly chubby, not athletic, and is characterized by Troy as having a broad chest, sturdy physique, soft midsection, being compact and sturdy, and I am saddened that this aspect of Harris is being overlooked,” BookTok content creator Taylor Layne, known as Taylor Just Reads, shared in a TikTok on Sunday.
“As a large gay Libra myself, I deeply connected with Harris, and I was eagerly anticipating more representation of diverse body types, particularly in a series about muscular athletes. […] I believe the show will be outstanding and the actors will excel, but at the same time, I am disheartened.”
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