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Justice Smith Breaks Silence on 'Heated Rivalry' Casting: 'Beyond Excited'

Smith said he is honored to play Harris Drover after fans criticized the casting of a non-plus-sized actor.

  • On Friday, Crave confirmed that actor Justice Smith and actor Charlie Gillespie will play Harris Drover and Troy Barrett, respectively, in the second season of the hit series 'Heated Rivalry'.
  • Following the announcement, some fans criticized the casting online, citing discrepancies between the actors' physical appearances and character descriptions in author Rachel Reid's novels.
  • Addressing the discourse on his Instagram Story on Saturday, Smith thanked fans for their support, saying he is 'honored' to take on the role and would 'take good care of him' if given the chance.
  • Series creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady defended the casting, saying Smith and Gillespie connected with the 'vulnerability and resilience' at the heart of their characters during the selection process.
  • Production for the new season begins next week, with the show aiming for a spring 2027 premiere on Crave and HBO Max.
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Justice Smith is not the Harris Drover that readers had in mind.

·Madrid, Spain
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Just Jared broke the news on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
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