Justice Smith rumoured to join 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 in major new role

Smith is rumoured to play Harris Drover, social media manager of the Ottawa Centaurs and love interest of Troy Barrett

Justice Smith is reportedly set to join the cast of Heated Rivalry season 2, with online speculation suggesting the Pokémon Detective Pikachu and Jurassic World Dominion star will play fan-favourite character Harris Drover in the hit hockey romance series.

The casting rumours began after celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi shared an anonymous tip claiming that Smith had been cast as Harris and that production on the new season had already begun. Neither the actor nor the show's producers have confirmed the report.

If the rumours prove true, Smith would join returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who reprise their roles as rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Season 2 is expected to adapt Rachel Reid's novel The Long Game, a direct sequel to Heated Rivalry, continuing Shane and Ilya's love story after the events of the first season.

In Reid's books, Harris serves as the social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs and is a central character in the novel Role Model, where he falls in love with closeted hockey player Troy Barrett. Some fans have welcomed the possibility of Smith taking on the role, while others have questioned whether he matches the book's physical description. Similar debates surrounded the casting of François Arnaud in the first season, with many viewers ultimately embracing his performance.

The rumours come shortly after reports that actor Jack Innanen was unable to join the second season due to scheduling conflicts despite being linked to another key role. Fans have also speculated that model and actor Abdalla Amour could appear as Fabian Salah, although no official casting announcements have been made.

Smith, who has also starred in I Saw the TV Glow, The Voyeurs and Generation, is one of Hollywood's rising stars. While his involvement in Heated Rivality remains unconfirmed, the rumoured casting has already generated excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the series' return.