Actor Justice Smith has responded to fan reaction to his casting in season 2 of Heated Rivalry.
As we reported last week, the Canadian makers of the hit show confirmed that Smith and Charlie Gillespie were joining the cast for its eagerly-awaited return. They will play Harris Drover and Troy Barrett respectively.
Both characters feature in author Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series of books, upon which Heated Rivalry is based. They appear in 2021’s Role Model. Its synopsis reads: “Fresh off a messy breakup, pro hockey player Troy Barrett has been traded to the worst team in the league, but soon finds himself irresistibly attracted to peppy social media manager Harris Drover.”
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Casting controversy
Not everyone welcomed news of Smith’s casting. Although many people expressed excitement at seeing him in the role, others expressed doubts. In the book, Drover is stocky.
Some people lamented that the role didn’t go to a plus-size actor. Others questioned whether Drover’s girth is central to the plot. Perhaps producers chose the actors who demonstrated the best chemistry together?
After all, in the books, Francois Arnaud’s character is blond, but no one complained about Arnaud having dark hair on the show.
Smith, who came out as queer in 2020, has now responded to the fan reaction via a message posted to his Instagram stories over the weekend.
“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,” Smith said.
“i am honored 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.”
He concluded by saying, “i am beyond excited for this experience :)”
Rachel Reid responds
Author Rachel Reid also responded to some of the negative reactions to Smith’s casting. On her own Instagram stories, she reminded people that she heard similar comments when the casting of Ilya and Shane was first announced. We all, of course, end up falling in love with Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams and their portrayals.
In a statement last week, showrunner Jacob Tierney and fellow executive producer 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.”
Smith is best known for appearing in The Get Down on TV, and the Jurassic World movies Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, on the big screen.
We’re looking forward to seeing him bringing Harris Drover to life. We also hope he has a thick skin when it comes to some quarters of the Heated Rivalry fandom!
Filming on the second season of Heated Rivalry is now underway in Canada. It’s expected to hit Crave and HBO next Spring.
Related
Justice Smith & Charlie Gillespie are about to make Heated Rivalry Season 2 even more heated
Here’s everything you need to know about their characters, Harris Dover & Troy Barrett, and how they might factor into the plot of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2.
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