Justin Hartley isn’t slowing down. The This Is Us alum, now the leading man of CBS’s breakout hit Tracker, just hinted that fans should brace themselves for a darker, more emotionally charged Colter Shaw when the series returns this fall.
In a recent interview on the set of Season 3, Hartley revealed that Colter’s journey is “about to get personal in a way that will shock people.” While Tracker has already taken viewers through a labyrinth of missing person cases, fractured family dynamics, and life-or-death survival, the upcoming season will reportedly raise the stakes by pulling Colter even deeper into his unresolved past.
“He’s been running for so long — running from his father’s legacy, running from his own guilt,” Hartley said. “This season, you’ll see him stop running. And that’s when things get dangerous.”
Fans have watched Colter evolve from a detached wanderer into a reluctant hero with scars that never quite heal. Hartley’s performance has been praised for its emotional depth and physical intensity, blending raw vulnerability with the grit of a man who lives off the grid.
Off-screen, Hartley has been equally busy. He continues to serve as an executive producer on Tracker, shaping story arcs alongside showrunner Ken Olin. The actor is also expanding his creative footprint, with projects in development that could see him both behind the camera and in front of it.
As for Tracker, Hartley acknowledges the show has become a defining role in his career. “It’s rare to find a character that challenges you every single day,” he explained. “Colter does that for me. He’s complicated, he’s flawed, and he’s constantly surprising me. I think that’s why audiences connect with him — because deep down, he’s just trying to figure it all out, like the rest of us.”
With CBS already confirming an early renewal, Hartley’s journey with Colter Shaw is far from over. If his warnings are anything to go by, Tracker fans can expect the most intense season yet.
