The author of the "Game Changers" book series, Rachel Reid, has publicly responded to backlash over the casting of Season 2 of HBO Max's hockey romance drama "Heated Rivalry", noting that similar criticism greeted the first season's casting before the show went on to become a huge success. The comment follows the announcement that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie will lead the second season, adapted from the fifth book in the series, "Role Model", as some fans took to social media to voice objections to the casting choices.

Smith and Gillespie will play hockey player Troy Barrett and Ottawa team social media manager Harris Drover respectively. Season 1, based on the same book series, starred Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie and became the most-watched scripted acquired series in HBO Max's history, averaging 10.6 million US viewers per episode before that figure doubled following its 26 December finale. Reid posted a wry social media message referencing past doubts about the original casting, while Smith addressed the backlash directly, thanking fans for their support and promising to "take good care" of the character he will portray.