Hartley Teases a More Vulnerable, Dangerous Side of Colter Shaw
Justin Hartley, the charismatic lead of Tracker and one of its executive producers, has recently opened up about what fans can expect in the highly anticipated third season of the CBS hit. Known for portraying Colter Shaw—a solitary “reward seeker” with sharp instincts and a haunted past—Hartley hints that Season 3 will reveal a side of the character we’ve never seen before.
“Colter has always been someone who stays just on the edge of danger, but this season, he may fall off that edge,” Hartley said in a May 2025 interview with OK! Magazine. “We’re digging deeper into his trauma, his regrets, and what happens when you can’t run anymore.”
According to Hartley, the upcoming season won’t just expand on Colter’s adventures—it will break him open emotionally. Viewers who thought they knew Shaw as a clever, stoic figure may be in for a surprise, as Hartley suggests the character may be facing an existential and literal threat that will upend everything.
A Season of Psychological Depth and Raw Emotion
While Tracker has always balanced episodic storytelling with long-term emotional arcs, Season 3 aims to tilt the scale in favor of raw, serialized character drama. In previous seasons, viewers got glimpses into Colter’s traumatic childhood—growing up off-the-grid with his paranoid father, surviving the loss of his sister, and becoming estranged from his brother Russell. Season 3 plans to make that pain front and center.
“There’s going to be a shift where the ghosts of his past start showing up in ways he can’t ignore,” Hartley explained. “He may even begin to question the very purpose behind his tracking work. Is he helping others to avoid helping himself?”
Writers have confirmed that this season will explore themes of guilt, legacy, and isolation. Hartley will reportedly have several scenes that strip away Colter’s physical strength and focus instead on his emotional fragility. This evolution is deliberate. The creative team wants to push Hartley as an actor and Colter as a character.
Expect intimate flashbacks, confrontations with old enemies, and possibly a return from characters presumed gone for good—including his elusive brother Russell.
“Tracker” Turns the Tables—Colter Becomes the Hunted
One of the most buzzed-about rumors surrounding Season 3 is that Colter may find himself on the other side of a case—targeted, framed, or implicated in something far more sinister than he’s ever faced. While Hartley wouldn’t confirm specifics, he did acknowledge that the stakes are higher.
“There’s a storyline where Colter isn’t just trying to solve a mystery—he is the mystery,” Hartley revealed. “We’re going to see how someone who’s always in control responds when he becomes vulnerable. He’s going to have to rely on people. And that’s hard for him.”
This arc opens up the possibility of Colter going off-grid for reasons not entirely his own, while navigating a legal or moral crisis. Fans can expect to see more of the supporting cast this time around—especially tech wizard Bobby Exley (played by Eric Graise) and legal expert Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene)—stepping into more active roles as Colter begins to unravel.
Hartley’s Dual Role Behind and In Front of the Camera
As both actor and executive producer, Justin Hartley has had a powerful influence on the direction of Tracker. He’s been closely involved in script development, casting choices, and even the tone of the show’s cinematography and score. This hands-on involvement is part of what gives the show its grounded, emotionally charged feel.
“I love Colter, but I also love shaping the world around him,” Hartley said. “When we’re in the writer’s room, I’m always asking: ‘What haven’t we done before?’ That’s what pushes us to keep growing the show.”
Hartley says his biggest goal for Season 3 is to challenge himself. “You can’t fake growth. You either dig into the mess, or you stay safe. We’re not staying safe this season.”
With the creative team expanding and CBS greenlighting additional episodes, Season 3 is also shaping up to be the most narratively ambitious. Hartley teases several emotionally explosive episodes, including one mid-season entry that he calls “the darkest hour” of Colter’s life.
Fans Can Expect High-Intensity, High-Reward Storytelling
Fan communities are already lighting up with theories—ranging from secret government conspiracies to the return of Colter’s mother, who’s been absent from the story since Season 1. Many speculate that Season 3 may bring closure to several long-standing mysteries while opening the door to an even more complex fourth season.
What makes this evolution possible is Hartley’s ability to balance strength and vulnerability in his performance. In every interview, he reiterates his love for the character and his belief that Tracker still has years of stories left to tell.
“We’re not slowing down,” he says with a grin. “We’re just getting started.”
