Filming for Heated Rivalry Season 2 has begun in Canada, and the show will be out in the spring of 2027. Harris Drover will be played by Justice Smith, and Troy Barrett will be played by Charlie Gillespie.
They are coming back as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Rachel Reid’s books The Long Game and Role Model will be used as inspiration for the new season. Harris and Troy’s relationship will add to the story.
What Does the New Heated Rivalry Season 2 Casting Reveal?
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Heated Rivalry Season 2 is moving forward with filming in Canada and is expected to arrive in spring 2027. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie join the cast for the second season, along with Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie.
Rachel Reid’s books The Long Game and Role Model will be used together in the story, and Jacob Tierney will continue to write, direct, and produce the show.
Who Are Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie Playing in Season 2?
Justice Smith will play Harris Drover, while Charlie Gillespie will play Troy Barrett. In Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, Harris and Troy are the main couple in the novel Role Model.
Troy Barrett is a hockey player whose move to Ottawa puts him on the same team as Ilya Rozanov. Harris Drover is the team’s social media manager and becomes an important part of Troy’s life.
- New characters: Justice Smith will play Harris Drover, while Charlie Gillespie will play Troy Barrett in Heated Rivalry Season 2.
- Harris Drover: Harris works as a social media manager for the Ottawa hockey team and develops a relationship with Troy.
- Troy Barrett: Troy is a hockey player traded to Ottawa after distancing himself from a former teammate, creating a direct connection with Ilya.
- Returning leads: Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie return as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, keeping the original Heated Rivalry love story at the core of Season 2.
- Casting process: Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady called Harris and Troy “two beautifully layered characters” and said they wanted actors who could bring the same depth and heart to the screen.
- Creative approval: Tierney and Brady said Smith and Gillespie “immediately connected” with the vulnerability and resilience of the characters and showed an “instinctive understanding” of Harris and Troy.
- Actor representation: Smith has been linked with David Dean Management, while Gillespie has been associated with Vanderwerff Talent.
- Production support: The Heated Rivalry series is commissioned by Crave and produced with participation from the Canada Media Fund.
How Will The Long Game and Role Model Bring Harris and Troy Into the Story?
Heated Rivalry Season 2 will use The Long Game to continue Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s relationship while bringing the Role Model couple into the same world. The books have overlapping timelines, and Ottawa provides a natural place for the characters to meet. This allows Season 2 to expand beyond Shane and Ilya without leaving their story behind.
- Book connection: The Long Game continues Shane and Ilya’s story, while Role Model follows Troy Barrett and Harris Drover, giving Season 2 two connected relationship arcs.
- Shared setting: Ilya’s move to Ottawa links him directly with Troy, making it easier for both stories to cross over on screen.
- Darker tone: Jacob Tierney said the new material enters “much more serious territory,” while Connor Storrie described Shane and Ilya’s next phase as a shift from discovery to “knowing and understanding.”
- Creative approach: Tierney said Troy is “a really damaged guy,” and Mike Goldbach joins him as a co-writer, with Rachel Reid remaining involved as consulting producer.
Why Did Rachel Reid and Justice Smith Respond to the Casting Backlash?
Some fans questioned Justice Smith’s casting because Harris has a different body form from the professional hockey players around him in the novel. Rachel Reid responded by pointing to similar doubts about Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie before the first season aired. Smith also addressed the reaction and thanked the fans who welcomed him.
- Fan concerns: Some readers wanted Harris Drover’s body representation from the books to carry over to the screen and questioned whether Smith matched that description.
- Reid’s response: Rachel Reid recalled that people once said the casting of Shane and Ilya was “wrong and bad,” comparing that reaction with the current criticism.
- Smith’s statement: Justice Smith said he was “moved by the support and love” from fans and promised to take good care of Harris if viewers gave him a chance.
- Creator support: Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady said Smith and Charlie Gillespie brought the depth, vulnerability, and resilience they wanted for Harris and Troy.
Final Thoughts
Heated Rivalry Season 2 is moving ahead with filming and a spring 2027 release window. Inspired by Rachel Reid’s books, the story follows Shane and Ilya as they go on and off the ice, with Harris and Troy adding to the story.
Fans can expect emotional ups and downs as the new couple brings exactly that kind of fresh energy from the pages to the screen.
FAQs
Yes, Heated Rivalry Season 2 is confirmed, with filming underway in Canada and the season scheduled for spring 2027.
Not entirely. Shane and Ilya remain central, while the season also introduces Harris and Troy’s love story based on Role Model.
An official Season 2 episode count has not been announced, so claims from TV Glow, Meyer, or an anonymous source should not be treated as confirmation.
Charlie Gillespie is playing hockey player Troy Barrett, whose move to Ottawa brings his story onto the same ice as Ilya Rozanov and connects with the wider story that also includes Scott Hunter.
Justice Smith is playing Harris Drover, the Ottawa team’s social media manager and the character at the root of Troy’s new romance.