Justin Hartley Leaving Tracker? The Truth About Colter Shaw's CBS Future Explained

1 week ago 10

Colter (Justin Hartley) looking quizzically at something in Tracker

Published Jun 15, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT

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Speculations about Justin Hartley leaving Tracker have circulated, which have left millions of fans wondering whether the end is near for the CBS series. Debuting in 2024, the lone wolf series based on The Never Game book has been at the top of the most-watched list since it burst into the scenes. While the 2025-2026 TV cycle introduced a worthy challenger in Luke Grimes' Marshals, Tracker's viewership remains impressive, hence why it has been such a big deal learning about Hartley's new endeavor.

Just weeks after Tracker season 3 ended, news broke out that Hartley is working on an upcoming ABC show, A Forgotten Kill, as a producer. Similar to the CBS series, the project is also based on a novel of the same name by Isabella Maldonado and was released in 2024. It tackles the story of FBI Special Agent Dani Vega hunting a serial killer New York City while also coming to terms with her own tragic past involving his mother's conviction for killing her father. Because the series is on a rival network and is also a crime procedural, there have been concerns that it is the beginning of the end of Hartley's stint as Colter in Tracker.

How Hartley's New ABC Project Impacts Tracker's Future

It's totally understandable that the actor's surprising move has raised questions about his future with CBS. This setup is very rare, especially since he's the face of Tracker. Not only is he starring in the show, he's also an executive producer, which makes his involvement in the show transcend being talent in front of the screen. Because Tracker is also highly dependent on Hartley, losing Colter risks the project's end.

To clear things, A Forgotten Kill is part of Hartley's ChangeUp Productions banner, which was launched in 2019, while he was still in the middle of playing Kevin Pearson in This Is Us. The company has a new multi-year first-look deal with 20th Television, which involves them developing and producing original content on traditional broadcast, cable and streaming. Julianna LaRosa functions as ChangeUp Productions' Head of Development, which means that she's the one overseeing this aspect of the organization.

Tracker’s Permanent Casting Change Solves Its Deus Ex Machina Problem

Justin Hartley's Tracker made a permanent casting change to its cast, and it effectively addresses a glaring storytelling critic of the CBS series.

It's worth noting that Tracker is also part of the original deal that Hartley's company had with 20th Television, which means that the partnership between them plays a part in the successful CBS series. If anything, the popularity of the project likely paved the way to get A Forgotten Kill off the ground. This explains why Tracker's veteran director and fellow EP, Ken Olin, will also have the same duties in the upcoming ABC series. All things considered, it doesn't seem like Hartley's new producing gig for ABC will have any kind of impact on his work in Tracker, which should be a major relief for fans who have been wondering.

Can Tracker Survive Without Justin Hartley's Colter?

Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) and his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) in bulletproof vests with guns drawn in Tracker

While there's no clear indication that A Forgotten to Kill will pave the way for Hartley's exit from Tracker, it's worth discussing what that looks like if the actor decides to leave the series. As previously mentioned, the series still lives and dies by its titular character, which is not the norm for long-running network TV shows. Projects that run over a decade, like NCIS, Law & Order, Grey's Anatomy, and One Chicago, have ensembles, so the weight of the work and the story can be spread out.

CBS Officially Pulls The Plug On Tracker's Best Future

After 3 seasons, Tracker remains one of the most-watched shows on TV. However, a surprise development has CBS effectively cancelling its best future.

Right now, losing Colter means the end of Tracker, as the show is nothing without him. They can position Jensen Ackles' Russell to be a replacement, but the transitioning process may not even be worth it, especially if there's a possibility of just launching a spinoff with him. The good news is that CBS can already make some tweaks to its storytelling to make it more independent of Colter. For starters, it can actively develop its side characters by giving them stories that doesn't rely on the survivalist's involvement. Talks about Reenie's childhood is a good start, and fans have learned more about Randy in season 3. However. Tracker season 4 can delve deeper into them, as well as Mel and even Keaton. This is vital at this point, when the Shaw Family mystery has officially been solved.

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