Justice Smith's 'Heated Rivalry' casting sparks debate over Harris' body type

Justice Smith's casting as Harris Drover in Heated Rivalry season 2 has sparked debate among fans of Rachel Reid's Game Changers novels, with some questioning whether the actor's appearance matches the character's description in the books.

Smith was announced on August 7 as the actor taking on Harris, the social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs. Charlie Gillespie will play Troy Barrett, the hockey player whose romance with Harris is central to Reid's 2021 novel Role Model, which is expected to form part of the upcoming season's storyline.

In Role Model, Harris is described as "stocky" with a "soft belly", while he refers to himself as "pudgy". Troy, meanwhile, sees him as rugged and broad-chested. Because of those descriptions, many readers have traditionally imagined Harris as having a larger build than Smith.

The casting has therefore prompted some fans to question the decision, particularly because the series' existing male leads are portrayed as highly muscular professional hockey players. The criticism is not necessarily directed at Smith's acting ability, but at what some viewers see as a missed opportunity for broader body representation in a romance series where physical appearance is often prominent.

At the same time, Harris' exact size is not central to his story in the novel. His relationship with Troy is built around their emotional connection, with Harris' body type serving more as part of his characterisation than as a defining element of the plot.

Smith and Gillespie will join returning stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who reprise their roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Season 2 is expected to expand the world of Heated Rivalry beyond Shane and Ilya while continuing their relationship. The new season is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.