Is this a case of fan casting made real?

Jack Innanen suggests Heated Rivalry season 2 casting talks: ‘We’ve chatted’

Is this a case of fan casting made real?

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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April 7, 2026 10:53 a.m. ET

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Jack Innanen on 'Heated Rivalry' season 2? The actor has fans talking. Credit:

Jason Mendez/Getty; Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

- Jack Innanen says he's "chatted" already about *Heated Rivalry* season 2.

- The actor from *Adults* and *Big Mistakes* rose to the top of fan dream-casts for the roles of Wyatt Hayes and Troy Barrett.

- "I think I'm perfect for the show because I am... down for anything," he said.

*Heated Rivalry* and Jack Innanen fans may be getting their wish. The Canadian actor spoke to press while promoting his role on Dan Levy's new Netflix series, *Big Mistakes*, and revealed he already "chatted" with the powers that be on the wildly popular Crave TV series about season 2.

"I've had some... conversations. We've chatted," Innanen told *Entertainment Tonight* when asked if he's been in touch with showrunner Jacob Tierney or anyone from the cast.

Then, when pressed if he's officially booked or not, the actor motioned that his lips are sealed. "Who knows?" he replied.

** reached out to reps for HBO Max (which distributes Heated Rivalry in the U.S.) and Innanen for further comment.

Fans of *Heated Rivalry* have been dream casting Innanen in a couple roles for season 2, notably Wyatt Hayes and Troy Barrett. As the starting goaltender for the Ottawa Centaurs, Wyatt is a prominent side character in Rachel Reid's *Game Changers* series, the romance novels that serve as the source material for the show. Troy, meanwhile, is a character Tierney has already heavily suggested will be a part of season 2.

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"Just like you can't tell the story without Scott Hunter, you can't really tell the story without Troy Barrett," the showrunner told the *Los Angeles Times* of the character, a forward on the Ottawa Centaurs and a main character in the fifth *Game Changers* novel, *Role Model*.

To ensure *Heated Rivalry* receives proper tax credits and financing as a Canadian production, the show needs to employ primarily Canadian talent, which is partly why Innanen rose to the top of the fan's wish lists. The actor has also has the requisite on-ice experience.

Jack Innanen at the New York premiere of 'Dying For Sex'.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

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Innanen acknowledged the fan casting online and even posted a video directed at Tierney, saying, "I'm available for that second season, just putting that out there."

He's also the kind of actor who, like series stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, seems well-suited for the repartee of the *Heated Rivalry* press trail. "I think I'm perfect for the show because I am… down for anything," he told ET. "And I played hockey. I got some mini sticks, I've been practicing, I've been working on my stick handling…I've been working on my hip mobility."

Production on season 2 will begin sometime this summer, while the team eyes a spring 2027 premiere.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Drama”