Liane Hentscher / Prime
The romantic drama “Off Campus,” centered around ice hockey and available on Amazon Prime Video, captivated audiences worldwide with its debut season. Unsurprisingly, anticipation for a second season is mounting. However, fans of Justin Kohl, portrayed by Josh Heuston, may face disappointment as he will not be part of the upcoming season.
Heuston’s absence from the second season is due to reasons that have not been disclosed. On a brighter note, the door remains open for his potential return. Louise Levy, the producer and writer of “Off Campus,” assured in a conversation with TV Guide that Heuston’s reprisal of his role isn’t off the table forever, stating, “We don’t have him [available] next season, but never say never.”
In the first season, Justin serves as a pivotal figure in the burgeoning romance between the main characters, hockey player Garrett Graham (played by Belmont Cameli) and music student Hannah Wells (played by Ella Bright). Initially, Hannah’s interest is piqued due to her desire to attract Justin’s attention. Yet, she discovers a deeper connection with Garrett. Fans, familiar with Elle Kennedy’s “Off Campus” book series, where Justin’s own romantic journey unfolds, would undoubtedly welcome his character’s return.
Justin’s own romance is still waiting in the wings
Liane Hentscher / Prime
The “Off Campus” series is crafted to transition its focus from one couple to another with each narrative. Consequently, the absence of Justin in Season 2 may not be as impactful as it could be in other series. Especially knowing that his storyline from “The Deal” is yet to be resolved, there remains hope for his future involvement.
Louise Levy acknowledges this aspect, expressing optimism about Josh Heuston’s potential comeback. She remarked in her TV Guide interview, “I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point. We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season.”
With Justin’s own love story waiting somewhere beyond the already confirmed “Off Campus” Season 2, it’s easy to suspect that the show will eventually find a way to bring the character back. As to when this will happen and whether Heuston will still play Justin at that point, there’s nothing to do but wait. “We’ll see,” Heuston himself said in an interview with Variety Australia. “Everything from scheduling to storylines to books … there’s a lot of stories to show in this particular series.”