“Heated Rivalry” became a global phenomenon for its provocative, boundary-pushing tone and approach. The steamy breakout series became Crave’s biggest original series to date, and greenlighting a second season was a no-brainer for HBO Max. Central stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie became internet sensations as rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively.
The show then took over numerous awards shows, with notable wins at the GLAAD Media Awards, Peabody Awards, Canadian Screen Awards and Television Academy Honors Award. After the show’s success, Storrie hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live,” for which he earned his first Primetime Emmy nomination.
Following the official second season announcement in December 2025, the show builds its cast with the addition of two fresh-faced actors for two hotly anticipated characters.
Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie Join Cast
Justice Smith, known for roles in “The Get Down,” “Jurassic World Dominion” and “I Saw the TV Glow,” has been cast as Harris Drover, a social media manager. Charlie Gillespie (“Julie and the Phantoms,” “Totally Killer”) plays Harris’ boyfriend, Troy Barrett, a hockey player known for getting into fights.
“Heated Rivalry” Season 2 focuses on the fifth and sixth books (“Role Model,” “The Long Game”) in Rachel Reid’s popular “Game Changers” series. When it came to casting Harris and Troy, Crave executive producers Tierney and Brendan Brady knew “we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen,” they told Deadline. Gillespie and Smith fit that bill as “they immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters.”
In addition to “Julie and Phantoms,” Gillespie has also appeared in several other TV series such as “Degrassi: Next Class,” “2nd Generation” and “Consequénces.” Similarly, Smith has led the cast of HBO Max’s”Generation,” as well as appeared in “Masterclass,” “The Thundermans” and “Drunk History.”
‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Premieres in 2027
“Heated Rivalry” began shooting its second season in August 2026, and it has confirmed the show will return in spring of 2027. With filming gearing up, series creator Jacob Tierney urged fans to respect the shoot’s boundaries.
“To our incredible fans and everyone who’s been sharing in the excitement for the show: Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness have meant the world to us. As we gear up for more ‘Heated Rivalry,’ please help us in making it the best it can be,” Tierney shared on Instagram. “If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best. We promise it’ll be worth the wait! Your ‘Heated Rivalry’ Family.”
“Heated Rivalry” has been quite the massive ratings draw for HBO Max. On average, the show has reached 10.6 million viewers per episode in the U.S. Comparatively, the season one finale, released on December 26, 2025, witnessed a 300 percent increase over the premiere episode. It has also become HBO Max’s most-watched scripted title purchased from another platform in the streamer’s history.
