‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Casts Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie as Harris and Troy

The second season of the popular series "Heated Rivalry" has cast Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett, respectively. The show is based on Rachel Reid's "Game Changers" series, and the new season will debut on HBO Max in spring 2027. The duo will be joined by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in leading roles.

Jacob Tierney, the series creator, and Brendan Brady, the executive producer, expressed their excitement about the casting, stating that Justice and Charlie embody the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters. Harris Drover, the team's social media manager, will be portrayed by Smith, while Gillespie will star as Troy Barrett, a professional hockey player traded to the Ottawa Centaurs.

Season 1 of "Heated Rivalry" broke records on HBO Max, debuting without any marketing campaign. The show chronicles the intense connection between Boston-based Russian team captain Ilya Rosanov and Montreal star Shane Hollander, as their secret sexual encounters evolve into a more intimate, emotional relationship. Season 2 will be adapted from Reid's sixth novel in the series, "The Long Game," with the source material for Troy and Harris' relationship coming from her fifth novel "Role Model."