ALT: ‘Heated Rivalry’ gained immense popularity as actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie took on the leading roles. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s novels, the queer hockey romance series chronicled the story of two rivals who have been harbouring a secret relationship behind closed doors. With the second season already in production, fans wondered which new faces would be cast in the show. According to recent updates, the showrunner has officially found their Troy Barrett and Harris Drover for season 2. Read ahead to learn more about the casting.
‘Heated Rivalry 2’ finds its Troy and Harris as production continues
The central focus of season 2 of ‘Heated Rivalry’ has officially been cast. Actors Charlie Gillespie and Justice Smith have been confirmed to join the upcoming season of the beloved drama series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The couple is first introduced in the book ‘Role Model,’ which is the fifth instalment of Reid’s best-selling series, ‘Game Changers.’ Gillespie and Smith will join Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who are slated to reprise their roles in the upcoming season.Charlie Gillespie will essay Troy Barrett, a hockey player transferred to the Ottawa Centaurs. Justice Smith, on the other hand, will play Harris Drover, the team’s social media manager. The show’s makers also issued an official statement about the casting announcement, expressing their excitement for the upcoming season and the new cast members.Showrunner Jacob Tierney stated, “Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for. From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen. Justice and Charlie do exactly that.” He further explained that the two stars connected almost immediately during the casting process and easily captured the “vulnerability and resilience” of Troy and Harris, perfectly embodying their characters.The second season is expected to pick up after the events of season 1, with Storrie’s character, Ilya Rozanov, moving to the low-ranking Ottawa Centaurs hockey team to be close to his boyfriend, Shane Hollander, played by Williams.
More about ‘Heated Rivalry 2’
The second season of the award-winning show is based on the sixth book from Reid’s ‘Game Changer’ series, titled ‘The Long Game.’ The upcoming season will continue with Shane and Ilya’s story as they navigate their relationship while hiding their true feelings and relationship from the public eye for the sake of the hockey team.
