Justice Smith Joins Heated Rivalry Season 2 as Creator Requests Fan Distance from Film Sets

Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have joined the second season of Heated Rivalry, the acclaimed Canadian television series that became a global phenomenon following its 2025 debut. The pair will portray Harris Drover and Troy Barrett in the upcoming installment, which is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.

New Cast and Storyline

Smith, known for appearances in I Saw the TV Glow and Now You See Me: Now You Don't, will play Harris Drover, a social media manager with a compassionate demeanor. Gillespie, whose credits include One Night Only and Splitsville, takes on the role of Troy Barrett, a hockey player with a troubled history of bullying. The characters are drawn from Role Model, the fifth book in Rachel Reid's bestselling Game Changers series, on which the show is based.

The series will continue following the central couple from Season 1—Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie—while weaving in the new storyline. Season 1 adapted the second book in Reid's series, while Season 2 will incorporate material from both the sixth book, The Long Game, and Role Model.

Creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady released a joint statement describing the new characters: "Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can't help but root for. Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters."

Production and Fan Boundary Setting

Production on Season 2 commenced earlier this week in Canada, with primary filming occurring in Toronto and Montreal, and potential returns to familiar locations in Hamilton, Ontario. The production is commissioned by Bell Media's Crave, with participation from the Canada Media Fund and will stream on HBO Max in the United States and other territories.

Director Tierney has issued a public request to the show's fanbase, asking them to respect the boundaries of cast and crew during filming. In a message posted to the show's official social media accounts, he appealed to fans not to approach filming locations or attempt to interact with actors on set. The request reflects the intense fan engagement that has emerged since the series' debut, where stars Williams and Storrie have attracted significant attention from admirers and paparazzi alike in various locations.

Recent incidents have included fans seeking photographs and autographs in Toronto, and a reported confrontation involving alleged autograph-sellers following Williams in Paris. These occurrences prompted the creative team to establish clear boundaries to protect the production schedule and the wellbeing of those involved.