Season 3 Officially Greenlit—But When Is It Coming?
CBS has officially confirmed that Tracker will return for a third season, following the massive success of its first two. Led by Justin Hartley as the enigmatic and morally complex Colter Shaw, the show has rapidly climbed in ratings to become one of the most-watched new dramas on television. But when exactly can fans expect Season 3?
As of June 2025, filming has reportedly begun, with multiple cast members—including Hartley and Fiona Rene—sharing behind-the-scenes images from new locations. CBS has not announced an exact premiere date, but industry insiders suggest an early 2026 release window, likely in February or March, continuing its successful mid-season slot.
Returning Cast and Core Characters
While Tracker thrives on its episodic, case-of-the-week format, its emotional core rests on a tightly knit ensemble cast. Season 3 is expected to bring back the central team:
-
Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, the lone-wolf tracker with a complicated past.
-
Eric Graise as Bobby Exley, the tech wizard and emotional rock of the group.
-
Fiona Rene as Reenie Greene, whose role expands significantly in Season 3.
-
Abby McEnany as Teddi Bruin, the veteran negotiator and team strategist.
-
Robin Weigert as Mary Dove Shaw, Colter’s mother, who remains tied to his mysterious family history.
In addition, casting rumors suggest that a new recurring character—possibly a rival tracker or federal agent—will enter the fray to challenge Shaw’s methods and motivations. No names have been confirmed yet, but early reports hint at “a seasoned female character with her own moral code.”
Plot Hints: A Larger Mystery Unfolds
Season 2 ended with several threads left dangling: Shaw’s family mystery, the ambiguous fate of a past adversary, and the question of whether Shaw’s personal code of justice is sustainable. According to executive producer Ben H. Winters, Season 3 will explore what happens “when a man who operates outside the system starts to lose control of the outcomes.”
Early episode synopses suggest:
-
A deeper dive into Colter’s relationship with his father’s legacy, possibly including flashbacks and new revelations about the Shaw family ideology.
-
A multi-episode arc involving a corporate crime cover-up, where Shaw must decide whether the truth is worth exposing if it endangers innocents.
-
A tension-filled subplot where Bobby is targeted by a cybercrime syndicate—bringing him dangerously out from behind his screens.
-
A pivotal story focusing on Reenie’s past, which ties directly into one of the new cases, forcing her to face long-buried trauma.
New Filming Locations: A Bigger Visual Canvas
Unlike previous seasons, which mostly stuck to wilderness terrain and small towns, Season 3 will reportedly move into urban landscapes—specifically San Francisco, Chicago, and even Vancouver doubling as Canadian wilderness. This shift in setting reflects the show’s growing ambition.
“There’s something raw and urgent about city cases,” Hartley said during a recent press appearance. “It raises the stakes in a new way—crowded streets, blurred morality, and way more unpredictability.”
Behind-the-Scenes Confidence
Internally, CBS appears very confident in Tracker’s longevity. There are reports of early talks around a potential Season 4, and even discussions of a streaming spinoff that would follow a new tracker character in a different country. These are far from confirmed, but the buzz speaks volumes about how well the show is performing across demographics.
Writers have also hinted that the show may begin experimenting with more serialized storytelling in Season 3—allowing for character arcs to span multiple episodes, rather than resolving cleanly by the end of each hour. For a show originally billed as a procedural, that’s a meaningful evolution.
Fan Anticipation: What They’re Asking For
Across social media, fans are asking for:
-
More background on Colter’s brother Russell and whether he’s truly dead or faking his disappearance.
-
A romantic arc—not necessarily with Shaw, but perhaps between Bobby and another team member.
-
More complex moral cases, such as human trafficking, eco-terrorism, or whistleblower stories.
-
At least one “bottle episode” where the team is trapped together, allowing for rich character interaction.
The Tracker fandom is nothing if not vocal—and the writers seem to be listening.
Conclusion: Tracker Season 3 Is Poised to Elevate Everything
While the heart of Tracker remains its tightrope balance between justice and consequence, Season 3 promises to challenge every assumption the show was built on. With more nuanced cases, expanded character arcs, and a broader visual scope, the series is no longer just about solving puzzles—it’s about what happens when those puzzles start to push back.
For fans of grounded thrillers, moral ambiguity, and dynamic ensemble storytelling, Tracker Season 3 is shaping up to be not just a continuation—but a reinvention.
