The world of Heated Rivalry is getting bigger. Following the success of its debut season, the hit romantic drama has officially added Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie to its Season 2 cast, where they will star alongside returning leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Smith will play Harris Drover, while Gillespie has been cast as Troy Barrett, introducing two fan-favorite characters from Rachel Reid's beloved Game Changers book series.

Although Crave and HBO Max have yet to release official character descriptions, readers of the novels will already be familiar with the pair and the story they're expected to bring to the screen.

In Rachel Reid's books, Troy Barrett is a talented hockey player who joins Ottawa after cutting ties with a former teammate and friend from Toronto following a major controversy. Harris Drover, meanwhile, serves as Ottawa's social media manager and gradually becomes determined to help Troy open up and step outside his comfort zone.

Their storyline has become one of the most popular arcs in the Game Changers series, making the casting announcement particularly exciting for fans who have been hoping to see more of Reid's characters adapted for television.

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Justice Smith is best known for projects such as I Saw the TV Glow and Now You See Me: Now You Don't, while Charlie Gillespie has appeared in One Night Only, Splitsville, and Suze. Together, they will lead the next chapter of the franchise's expanding story.

Season 2 will also see the return of Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams as Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. The first season followed what began as a secret relationship between two young hockey stars before evolving into a years-long story of love, self-discovery, and personal growth. 

Before the new additions were announced, Connor Storrie had hinted that filming could begin during the summer, fueling anticipation among fans eager to see the next chapter of the series take shape.

Series creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady praised the new additions, saying Harris and Troy are "beautifully layered characters" and that Smith and Gillespie immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience that define them. According to the pair, the actors demonstrated a strong understanding of the characters from the beginning of the casting process.

Produced for Crave by Bell Media, Heated Rivalry continues to build on the popularity of Rachel Reid's novels while expanding its on-screen universe. With two new central characters entering the story and familiar faces returning, Season 2 looks set to introduce another emotional chapter for fans of the series.

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Are you excited to see Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie bring Harris and Troy to life in Heated Rivalry Season 2? Let us know in the comments.