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Watch: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Casts Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie
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Rachel Reid Reacts to Criticism Over Heated Rivalry Season 2 Casting

Watch: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Casts Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie in Major Season 2 Roles

Rachel Reid knows what she’s doing.  

Hours after Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie were announced to star as Harris Drover and Troy Barrett, respectively, in Heated Rivalry season two Aug. 7, the series’ author seemingly addressed criticism of the casting. 

As she wrote on Instagram Stories Aug. 7, “Thinking about all the people last summer who told me the casting for Ilya and Shane was wrong and bad….”

Indeed, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams’ steamy performances as the fictional hockey players couldn’t have resonated more with audiences. And while Reid urged fans to trust her gut when it comes to filling more roles in the hit book-to-TV adaptation moving forward, supporters of the franchise have their concerns.

Mainly, many die-hard fans of the Heated Rivalry universe were skeptical about Smith’s casting considering Harris is described in Reid’s Game Changers series as “stocky.”

“Harris is supposed to be stocky,” one user wrote on X in response to the casting announcement. “Justice is not. Let’s not change that aspect of him.”

Meanwhile, another user emphasized the sentiment, adding, “I love Justice, and I think he’s a fantastic actor, but this is a bummer for Harris.”

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Heated Rivalry Announces Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie’s Casting in Major Season 2 Roles

But other fans are thrilled to see the budding actors leave it all out on the hockey rink together. 

“Loved seeing justice in the other shows/films I’ve seen him in,” another fan wrote. “Can’t wait to see him on s2!”

And despite any criticism about the casting, the Heated Rivalry production team has no doubt Smith and Gillespie will deliver. 

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent/Ben Hider/Tubi via Getty Images

“Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for,” show creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady said in a statement to Deadline on Aug. 7. “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.”

As for what made them standouts for the role?

“They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters,” they continued, “bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.”

Until Heated Rivalry season two makes its debut, keep reading for more exciting TV shows premiering soon.  

Apple TV

Ted Lasso (Apple TV) – Aug. 5In season four, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.
The Shards (FX) – Aug. 5FX’s The Shards is a seductive drama series from executive producer Ryan Murphy, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.

Sabrina Lantos/Prime

Sterling Point (Prime Video) – Aug. 5Sterling Point is a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie’s life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather’s island in Canada. There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. 

Netflix

Let’s Marry Harry (Netflix) – Aug. 5The series follows heartthrob Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match), who is done playing the field and is handing over the reins of his love life to those who know him best. After years of dating in the spotlight, his three closest confidants, Amanda Kloots, Georgia Hassarati and Sonny Henty, step in to make the tough calls, guiding Harry through a carefully selected pool of potential matches as he searches for authentic love and marriage.

BritBox

The Hardacres (BritBox) – Aug. 5A working class family in 1890s Yorkshire move from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate.

Discovery Channel/Warner Bros. Discovery

How to Catch a Dirtbag (Discovery Channel) – Aug. 5A new series featuring the “investigations” of internet sensation Michael McWhorter, aka “Tizzy Ent”, who has popularized the art of internet crowd sourcing to help identify those who appear to do horrible things in public and seem to get away with it.Episodes highlight and investigate viral clips of apparent bad behavior, using digital clues to help identify the alleged offender, get the real story behind the video, and sometimes even a conviction. Included are interviews with victims, witnesses, law enforcement, and occasionally the accused themselves, with each episode striving to explore the full arc from incident to outcome.

Netflix

My Life With the Walter Boys (Netflix) – Aug. 6The path of true love never runs smooth, especially in Silver Falls. The last time we saw the Walters, Jackie and Cole finally confessed their love for each other, only for Jackie’s boyfriend — and Cole’s brother — Alex to overhear. But their conversation was interrupted when Walter patriarch George was rushed to the hospital. Season 3 sees the Walters realize what’s important in the fallout from this – and discover that it’s okay to go after what you want. With their love lives still hanging in the balance, Alex turns to his new rodeo riding team, and Cole gets back in the driver’s seat of his life, literally, when a race car driver sees potential in him. Meanwhile, Jackie pours her heart into developing the town’s community space. But when a childhood friend arrives from New York, the life she left behind proves harder to forget than she expected.
Monsters of God (HBO) – Aug. 6From the Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker behind Tiger King, Eric Goode tells the story of the reptile trade over decades.

Paramount+

Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live (Paramount+) – Aug. 6Captured during her sold-out world tour, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live) brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated, decorated and successful artists of her generation.

USA Network

Anna Pigeon (USA Network) – Aug. 7Based on the New York Times best-selling novels by Nevada Barr, the new drama series follows Anna Pigeon (Tracy Spiridakos), a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever. While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way.

Bravo/NBCUniversal

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th (Bravo) – Aug. 9Seven of the most iconic Real Housewives are whooping it up for a girls’ trip like no other through Orange County, Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Miami and New York City. Each stop welcomes more familiar faces from Housewives history to join the celebration and revisit the franchise’s most memorable moments.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls (Prime Video) – Aug. 9For decades, Bear Grylls has survived dangerous expeditions around the globe, anchored by his faith in Jesus. Now he’s taking the stars of the global hit series on missions into the unknown. Across challenging environments ranging from Utah’s Castle Valley and Canyonlands to the Ausable River, the Colorado River, the Great Basin Desert, and the Adirondack Forest, Bear pushes his guests beyond their comfort zones while exploring what makes them tick and drawing out deeply personal conversations about faith and spirituality.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

Reacher (Prime Video) – Aug. 12Season four of the action series debuts this summer.

Apple TV

Women in Blue/Las Azules (Apple TV) – Aug. 12Women in Blue (Las Azules) season two will follow María (Bárbara Mori), now promoted to lieutenant, as she finds herself torn between the rules she’s sworn to uphold and a relentless pull towards the truth when the body of a student activist is discovered, and the Azules are pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the student massacre of 1968. Before they can make sense of what they’ve found, the body of a person connected to that brutal chapter of history is unearthed, sending shockwaves through the department. Someone is delivering justice straight to the police’s door, and the Azules are the department’s last hope of stopping the killer. As María, Valentina (Natalia Téllez), Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), and Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana) fight battles both inside and outside the precinct, buried truths rise to the surface and they’re forced to confront an uncomfortable question: in a system plagued with corruption, what is the cost of fighting for their ideals?

Apple TV

Las Azules/The Women in Blue (Apple TV) – Aug. 12Season two will follow María (Bárbara Mori), now promoted to lieutenant, as she finds herself torn between the rules she’s sworn to uphold and a relentless pull towards the truth when the body of a student activist is discovered, and the Azules are pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the student massacre of 1968. Before they can make sense of what they’ve found, the body of a person connected to that brutal chapter of history is found, sending shockwaves through the department. Someone is delivering justice straight to the police’s door, and the Azules are the department’s last hope of stopping the killer. As María, Valentina (Natalia Téllez), Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), and Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana) fight battles both inside and outside the precinct, buried truths rise to the surface and they’re forced to confront an uncomfortable question: in a system plagued with corruption, what is the cost of fighting for their ideals?

Disney/David Astorga

Camp Rock 3 (Disney) – Aug. 13When Connect 3 loses their opening act for a major reunion tour, they return to their beloved Camp Rock to discover the next big thing. As campers vie for the chance to open for their favorite band, tensions rise and friendships are tested — leading to unexpected alliances, revelations, and romances.

Netflix

Tires (Netflix) – Aug. 13After the unexpected success of their big marketing idea, Will and Shane rush to grow personally and professionally without fully realizing the cost of doing business.
Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes (HBO) – Aug. 14In his second HBO stand-up special, comedian, musician, and actor Whitmer Thomas digs into his small-town Alabama upbringing… and his ongoing quest to be cool. Joined onstage by his bandmates and closest friends – Jeremy Ritchie, Clay Tatum, Budd Diaz, and brother Johnny McCann – Whitmer shares irreverent and heartfelt stories chronicling his chaotic adolescence, from pranks and skateboarding to ruining a Benihana birthday party. Blending original songs, photos, and home videos, Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes is a funny and deeply personal tribute to the people and moments that shape us.

The Roku Channel

Honest Renovations (Roku Channel) – Aug. 14Raising a family is hard—your home shouldn’t make it harder. Best friends Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis are on a mission to fix that, transforming houses that have stopped working for the families living inside of them. Together, they dig into each family’s biggest struggles, dream up smart, problem-solving design solutions, and turn them into reality. The result: homes that are both beautiful and actually built for real life.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) – Aug. 17In season 18, It’s Always Sunny continues its return to its roots, with 10 jam-packed setups only the Gang could find themselves in. Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob Mac), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito) are wrapped up in salvaging inheritances from a dead woman, surviving tent encampments and the great inside-outside divide between the haves and have-nots, withstanding job loss at the hands of workplace automation, embracing a newfound appreciation for neurodivergence, questioning the fabric of society against conspiracy theories, and of course — the biggest elephant in the room — outlasting the public’s pendulum swing against drinking. Not to mention battling nerds, LARPers, and a particularly petulant McPoyle clan at the Renaissance Faire or sportswashing their way back into the good graces of their community by sponsoring a Little League team. All the while trying to maintain order in their personal lives and at Paddy’s, which have become increasingly lawless and erratic.
Cocktail Wars (E!) – Aug. 18The reality competition series pits America’s buzziest mixologists against each other in a lively, high-stakes showdown for $10,000 per episode. Hosted by Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, who are joined by a series of celebrities and an expert judge, each episode features a fast, fiery battle of skill, creativity, humor and flair. From playful flavor combinations to eye-catching technique, the focus is on having a good time, taking risks, and serving up drinks with personality. Each shake, stir and splash could be the winning touch or the one that sends them home. It’s a cocktail competition where the vibes are high, the drinks are strong, and the bragging rights are everything.

Discovery Channel/Warner Bros. Discovery

Expedition X (Discovery Channel) – Aug. 19From the haunting legend of New Mexico’s elusive Skinwalkers to ghost-filled battlefields and England’s mysterious medieval folklore, adventurer Josh Gates teams up with scientist Phil Torres and paranormal investigator Heather Amaro to investigate shocking stories where history, myth and the supernatural collide.

National Geographic/Disney

Lion (National Geographic) – Aug. 19The emotional, real-life drama chronicles the remarkable four-year journey of a tiny lion cub named Kio as he becomes a king.

Netflix

Outer Banks (Netflix) – Aug. 20Season five finds the Pogues at their absolute breaking point following the tragic loss of JJ in Morocco. Stranded far from home and mourning the heart of their crew, they’ve lost the Blue Crown and continue to face a gauntlet of familiar threats. With Chandler Groff still at large, Dalia and the Corsairs closing in, and the Kooks ensuring the Pogues have no home to return to, John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, and Cleo must rely on their scrappy instincts—and an uneasy alliance with Rafe—to keep from falling apart for good. Their mission is now a desperate race to reclaim their future and finally win the freedom they’ve been chasing since the beginning. It’s the Pogues against the world as they seek to avenge their best friend and bring it on home…one final time.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter (Prime Video) – Aug. 20The documentary explores the extraordinary journey of tennis GOAT Novak Djokovic, who began playing on the hardscrabble courts of Serbia and rose to become the most accomplished champion in the history of men’s tennis.

Disney

The Girls: A Khloe Kardashian Project (Hulu) – Aug. 21Step inside Khloé Kardashian‘s inner circle as her closest friends navigate the highs and lows of motherhood, marriage, dating, business, and life in the spotlight. From career milestones and family challenges to girls’ trips, launch parties, and life-changing decisions, these ambitious women come together through their shared connection to Khloé. But as they spend more time together and get to know one another on a deeper level, unexpected tensions, old wounds, and clashing perspectives begin to surface – testing whether these friendships can grow as their lives continue to evolve.

Apple TV

The Dynasty: UConn Huskies (Apple TV) – Aug. 21The three-part documentary chronicles the rise of the most dominant program in college basketball history. Featuring exclusive interviews with the 2025 National Championship team and legendary voices spanning generations of UConn basketball, the series explores the pursuit of excellence, the expectations that accompany sustained success, and the people who upheld that standard across generations. Through never-before-seen archival footage and intimate access, the series digs into the obsession, pressure, sacrifices and ruthless culture that transformed a basketball program into an unrivaled phenomenon.

Jonathan Pushnik/VERSANT MEDIA 2026

Big Break x Good Good presented by Golf Galaxy (Golf Channel) – Aug. 25The popular reality competition series features 12 highly skilled golfers competing in a series of unique golf challenges to claim the Big Break title and a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Good Good Championship in November.

TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery

1000-Lb Roomies (TLC) – Aug. 25In the new season, best friends and roommates Jaz and Nesha return as they navigate life’s highs and lows while continuing their health journeys. As Jaz focuses on regaining her independence and taking important steps forward in her recovery, an exciting new romantic connection has her wondering whether love may finally be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Nesha pursues new opportunities, including launching her event planning business, hosting a speed-dating event, and confronting the lasting impact of growing up in a religious cult. Together, the pair face evolving relationships, personal breakthroughs, and pivotal moments in their wellness journeys. Through every challenge, disagreement, milestone, and triumph, Jaz and Nesha’s friendship is tested, strengthened, and transformed in unexpected ways.

Apple TV

Dark Matter (Apple TV) – Aug. 28Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Jennifer Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, and their son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) starves for a sense of stability as their family is threatened.Elsewhere, Amanda (Alice Braga) and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson) join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair (Amanda Brugel) determined to stop him, Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world.

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