All you need to know about Heated Rivalry season 2 star Justice Smith
Justice Smith is joining Heated Rivalry season 2. (Savion Washington/Getty)
Justice Smith has been cast in the second season of Heated Rivalry, but who is the 31-year-old American actor?
The LA-born star will join the pre-existing cast of Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who play hockey rivals-to-lovers Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander.
After announcing he’ll join the series as Harris Drover, Smith shared a message with Heated Rivalry fans.
In his message to fans, Smith wrote: “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.”
He also added: “I am beyond excited for the experience.”
As the hype for Heated Rivalry season 2 continues to mount, here’s everything you need to know about new cast member Justice Smith…
Who is Justice Smith in Heated Rivalry season 2?
Along with his casting, it was announced that Smith would play Harris Drover.
Harris is the social media manager for the Ottawa Centaurs hockey team. The character is a lovable, openly gay man who loves connecting with others.
Harris is a central character in Rachel Reid’s book Role Model, the fifth in her Game Changers hockey romance series.
Season two will draw on Role Model, alongside the show’s central adaptation focus, The Long Game. In Role Model, Harris and complicated hockey player Troy Barrett (played by Charlie Gillespie) are the central couple.
Is Justice Smith queer?
Smith has spoken openly about his sexuality; in 2020, he came out as queer. He has publicly dated actor Nicholas L Ashe previously.
Last year, Smith opened up about who he sees himself dating in the future.
Speaking to Gayety, he shared he had no plans to date women ever again, though he clarified that he was still attracted to women as well as men.
“I will never date a woman again,” he noted. “Not because I’m not attracted to them. But because I don’t like the feeling of having to be the man in the relationship.”
He also continued: “When I was dating women, I just felt like I always had to be the proverbial big spoon.
“What I like about same-sex relationships is that we both can kind of switch off and on what parts of ourselves we’re showing.”
What has Justice Smith starred in before?
Smith has been working in film, television, theatre, and even video games for more than a decade. Additionally, he’s been part of a number of high-profile projects ahead of Heated Rivalry.
Notably, he’s starred in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Detective Pikachu and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves.
Additionally, Smith’s performance in HBO’s Genera+ion was acclaimed. He starred as queer, gender fluid character Chester.
Speaking to The Daily Beast, the actor shared: “For so long, queer people have had to try to find their like representation in straight material. Now it’s kind of the other way around.”
Smith also made waves in his leading role as Owen in I Saw the TV Glow. The young character becomes obsessed with a mysterious late-night TV show which severs his reality. Jane Schoenbrun’s film serves as an allegory for the trans experience.
Heated Rivalry season two is confirmed to premiere in spring 2027.
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