Heated Rivalry is expanding its roster. HBO Max and Crave’s breakout queer hockey drama has added Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie to its cast in lead roles.

Created by Jacob Tierney, Heated Rivalry centers on the secret, multi-year romance between rival pro hockey superstars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), a story that starts as a tense fling between competitive rookies and grows into something far more emotional, all set against the pressure of professional sports.

When the show premiered in late 2025, it didn’t just find an audience, it became a cultural moment. Fueled by viral edits across TikTok and Instagram, it became Crave’s top original series of all time, and after HBO Max picked it up internationally, the series crossed 10 million views across 130 countries. Its debut season also swept Canadian Screen Awards with a record 16 wins.

For Season 2, the show is expanding into a dual-storyline format, weaving in elements from Reid’s fifth novel, Role Model, alongside her sixth book, The Long Game.

Smith steps into the role of Harris Drover, the charismatic, ever-cheerful social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs, while Gillespie plays opposite him as Troy Barrett, a hockey player recently traded to Ottawa and working to rebuild his reputation after cutting ties with a toxic former teammate.

In Reid’s books, Harris is the one who helps Troy let his guard down and embrace some vulnerability, and their dynamic is already shaping up to be one of the season’s most anticipated additions.

Production is currently underway in Canada, with Williams and Storrie returning as Shane and Ilya alongside the expanded cast. Heated Rivalry Season 2 is officially set to premiere on Crave and HBO Max in Spring 2027.