Heated Rivalry 2: Justice Smith, Charles Gillespie join cast of hit TV show | Mint
Heated Rivalry 2: Justice Smith, Charles Gillespie join cast of hit TV show
Justice Smith and Charles Gillespie have joined the cast of Heated Rivalry 2 as Harris Dover and Troy Barrett. The Crave Original will return in Spring 2027, with Lionsgate Play streaming the new season in India.
Justice Smith and Charles Gillespie have joined the cast of Heated Rivalry Season 2, expanding the ensemble of the acclaimed hockey drama ahead of its scheduled premiere in Spring 2027.
Heated Rivalry 2: Justice Smith, Charles Gillespie join cast
Smith, knows for films including I Saw the TV Glow and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, will Harris Dover, while Gillespie, whose credits include One Night Only, Splitsville, and Suze has been cast as Troy Barrett. The pair will join Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who will reprise their leading roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Heated Rivalry was created by Jacob Tierney and is based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers book series. The first season centred on the complicated relationship between rival hockey players Shane and Ilya, whose professional competition developed into a secret relationship that continued for years.
The first season followed the pair as they navigated ambition, rivalry, secrecy, and their growing feelings for one another. Their relationship eventually became a story of love, denial, and self-discovery, establishing the central emotional arc of the series.
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With Season 2, the show will introduce Harris and Troy as new characters while continuing to build on the world established in its first instalment.
Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady said, “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. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”
Tierney returns for the second season as writer, director and executive producer. Brendan Brady and Jayme Alter Wilson will also serve as executive producers, while Lori Fischburg and Liane Cunje are producers. Reid will continue as consulting producer, with Mike Goldbach joining as co-writer for Season 2.
Also Read|‘Heated Rivalry 2’ to stream in India
The series was commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave with the participation of the Canada Media Fund. International distribution is handled by Sphere Abacus, a Bell Media company, with the series available across more than 130 countries.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2027, with Lionsgate Play set to make the new season available in India.
About the Author
Trisha Bhattacharya is a Senior Content Producer at Livemint, with over two years of experience covering entertainment news from India and beyond. She spends her days tracking what’s trending, breaking down pop culture moments, and turning fast-moving entertainment stories into sharp, engaging reads that actually make people want to click — and stay.
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She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Lucknow University, a background that shapes her love for layered narratives, strong voices, and stories that linger long after they’re told. Before joining Livemint, Trisha worked with India Today as an entertainment journalist and film critic. There, she reviewed films, covered industry news, and built a strong foundation in storytelling and cultural analysis.
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Trisha enjoys working at the intersection of media, culture, and audience interest, always looking for fresh angles and formats. Films, shows, and music are not just her beat but her biggest passion — something that naturally reflects in her writing. Whether it’s cinema, streaming shows, music, or internet trends, she approaches every story with curiosity and intent.
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Outside the job description, she’s unapologetically passionate about films, shows, and music — sometimes a little too passionate, if you ask her. That enthusiasm often spills into her work, adding personality, urgency, and a touch of chaos that keeps her writing alive. For Trisha, entertainment isn’t just a beat — it’s a language she speaks fluently.
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