Justin Hartley's Hit Show Tracker Season 2
Fans of Justin Hartley's successful CBS series Tracker won't have to wait very long for a second season.
Based on Jeffery Deaver's book The Never Game, the procedural premiered in February following Super Bowl LVIII and attracted a viewership right away. Every week viewers were settling in to witness their preferred fictional survivalist, Colter (Hartley), tour the nation helping to solve missing person cases, seek out information on criminal cases and so much more.
Because of the show's lead and the great range of riddles Colter solved, Tracker originally drew in viewers. As guest actors like Melissa Roxburgh and Jensen Ackles appeared on screen, Season 1 only grew more fascinating. Hartley's real-life wife, Sofia Pernas, also appeared. Hartley even got to see not one but two! — of his former costars from This Is Us: Jon Huertas and Jennifer Morrison.
Viewer counts verified that Tracker was the most watched show from the 2023–24 TV season following the first season finale. CBS was not surprised by this, but given they had previously extended Tracker's contract for a second season.
Keep surfing for all you need to know about Tracker's second season.
When is 'Tracker' coming back to CBS for Season 2?
Comprising 13 episodes, the show's first season concluded in May 2024. The network announced Tracker would be returning for the 2024–2025 season following the conclusion. October 13, 2024 is the launch date for Season 2, which will have 22 episodes.
Returning Someone: Who
Of course, Hartley is anticipated to return as Colter, who has sought assistance in solving his cases from Velma (Abby McEnany), Bobby ( Eric Graise), Reenie (Fiona Rene) and Teddi (Robin Weigert). But Weigert left the programme before the second season started. The star of the program, who also serves as executive producer on the project, has stated that Ackles is returning as Colter's brother Russell while Roxburgh will reprising the part of Colter's sister, Dory.
The season 1 finale included Colter's childhood buddy Lizzy (Morrison), which set the path for further Morrison appearances going forward. Since Colter has barely begun exploring the past of his late father, viewers may also expect additional flashback scenes centering the Shaw family.
Sofia Pernas will show up on the show how often?
Appearing in just one episode as Colter's competitor Billie, Pernas made a memorable impact. Fortunately, Hartley has made it very evident that Pernas is scheduled to make even more returns from here.
She is very definitely returning. Hartley told Deadline in May 2024 that we have some very amazing things she might accomplish next year. "She will come returning multiple times next year.Since we would want to play more with this very outstanding set of performers—who are presumably more than happy to come back—we constructed this. We have several stories to share with everyone of them.
Later on, Hartley spoke to Us in July 2024 about his delight working with Pernas, saying, "She's fantastic. Really, if I could choose, I would spend every minute with her. She improves scenarios, which simplifies my work in fact. Still, working with her is absolutely fantastic.
The actor also saw the interaction between Colter and Billie. "There is some bad blood, but it also seems like, 'Are they going to heal things? Aren't they? You know, could you rely on her? I'm not sure whether you can,” Hartley kept going. "She hasn't shown that Colter can trust her, so I mean, she hasn't shown anything. We will thus observe how that develops. You know, there is simply a lot of space to work with that connection.
Hartley said The Hollywood Reporter that the episode starring Pernas was his favorite from season 1 that same month.
How does the Season 1 Finale set up Colter's story from here?
Several connections emerged as the first season drew to an end: Colter learned more regarding the unexplained death of his father.Lizzie, his buddy, told him that her mother had an affair with Colter's dad. Their parents argued before his death, and Lizzie subsequently discovered a box her mother had buried loaded with Colter's dad's work. Lizzie informed Colter she handed the things to his sister Dory, who never brought up anything with him.
Hartley spoke to Deadline in May 2024, "We have a whole entire season to film that we have to do better than Season 1. We therefore wanted those bows to sort of lead to more general, broader concerns about his background even as we wanted all those narrative threads closed. Thus, I believe we responded to some of the queries we had accumulated all year. We did a decent job, in my opinion, ensuring that the responses to those questions then result in a more general mystery—something we can explore in season 2.
The actor verified at San Diego Comic Con that season 2 will have a several months time jump.
With his brother, where does Colter stand?
Colter was sure throughout season one that Russell was responsible for the death of their father. Russell's onscreen reunion raised some questions when he said there was someone else in the woods the night their dad dropped to his death from a cliff.
What Colter does is he reads and searches individuals. He detects body language. He is able to stare at people. He sees people in their eyes and knows. Hartley told Deadline, he is a soulful man personally as well. "I chose in that moment when Jensen [Ackles] was looking at me, and the way he was playing it, I chose in that moment basically, that I was going to really, really want to believe him."
Colter allows opportunity for further inquiries as he does not have all the answers.
Does Colter believe he pushed him down the cliff right now? Most likely not, he continued. "But does he believe he had nothing to do with anything or lacks knowledge regarding the death of his father? And that he is exactly in the dark, like Colter is? Neither do I believe that to be the case.
How Often Will Our Choice of Guest Stars Come Back?
Perfect worlds would see [Jensen] as much as we could. He is, however, a busy man. We will so explore our options and the same for Melissa. Hartley told The Wrap in May 2024: "We don't need eight or nine times, but it would be good to have a few with him and a few with Sofia". "I think we should sprinkle Sofia in a little more just because there's that backstory with Billie and Colter and trying to figure out what the hell that was with Jennifer Morrison's character."
Two months later Reid announced that Ackles will turn up in more than one episode even though Ackles booked another program. Hartley suggested that Russell will be in scenes in the second episode.
Can Fans Expect Colter to Still Violate Laws and Get Arrested?
Tracker swiftly clarified that Colter's success record in his cases was partly due to his willingness to stop at nothing to get answers. That caused several run-ins with the law; some of them resulted in Colter behind jail.
"We do have a running joke about Colter's law breaking frequency, though. Our grips division compiled an absurd list. Maybe at the conclusion of season 2, my wrap gift to everyone will be a sweatshirt listing all of his accomplishments, Hartley joked with The Wrap. Like violence, breaking and entering, abduction, all that kind of things. Still, the list is already somewhat extensive. He is breaking the law every episode, right? You may alos read this: Early connections for Jenn Tran on Night 1 of 'The Bachelorette'
Dream Scenario for Justin Hartley Regarding a Case
"Part of me wants to do a water episode, then I'm like, 'What the devil is wrong with you? You are not doing a water episode. Hartley revealed to The Wrap. You are in the water; they take twice as long and are twice as difficult. Still, I believe we have to do one just because it looks great. Indeed, I am open for everything.
Will schedule adjustments and delays abound?
While Tracker was setting records for viewers, people became annoyed with the way other shows caused schedule changes or delays. March Madness caused a major delay in a key episode in March 2024 when Hartley reunited on film with Pernas. Similar problems arose one month later at the CMT Music Awards when the network omitted airing a fresh episode.
Later, Tracker was pushed one hour ahead to provide room for The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. Previous programming running over its allocated time also caused delays the night of due on the season 1 finale, which aired in May 2024.
Which more story lines will be featured?
The actors made hints throughout the 2024 TCAs about additional people finding opportunity to shine in the second season.
Showrunner Elwood Reid hinted to a slight turn in our plot. "Velma is assuming a really fascinating role with something that was teased with Reenie's character — as she tries to open her own business."