Justice Smith celebrates Heated Rivalry casting

Justice Smith has spoken out following the news he's joining season two of Heated Rivalry.

The Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom star has been cast as Harris Drover in the hit TV show. He and Charlie Gillespie, who will play Troy Barrett, join in leading roles alongside Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

"I have to say I am moved by the support and love I'm getting from fans in my DMs, fans who have welcomed me with open arms and who already feel a responsibility to protect me," the actor wrote in an Instagram post.

"I am honoured to play a character you all care about deeply, and I promise I will take good care of him if you give me the chance. I am beyond excited for this experience."

Some fans have criticised the decision to cast a non-plus-sized actor as the character of Harris, who in Rachel Reid's Game Changers books, on which the show is based, is described as "stocky and rugged", alongside mentions of him having a "broad chest and a soft belly".

Smith is also known for his roles as Tim Goodman in 2019's Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, and Theodore Finch in 2020's All the Bright Places.

Ottawa is expected to be the setting for season two of Heated Rivalry as main character Ilya Rozanov, played by Storrie, moves to the low-ranking Canadian team.

The Russian hockey player made the decision to move to the team in the finale of the show's first season to be closer to Heated Rivalry's other main character and his now-boyfriend, Shane Hollander, played by Williams.

Heated Rivalry was greenlit for a second season early into the show's first run. The show will begin shooting this month and is aiming for a spring 2027 release.