Tracker Season 4 Is Still Missing CBS' Secret Ingredient

Published Aug 12, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Tracker has become one of CBS' biggest hits over the past few years, but its next season is currently still missing the show's secret ingredient, which could make the Justin Hartley hit's next era its worst yet. Over the course of the past few seasons, Tracker has managed to captivate a huge number of viewers as Hartley's Colter Shaw, a private investigator who prefers to work as a solo operation, has tracked down dozens of missing people all over the US. With Tracker season 4 making a major leap and moving production across the border, the series is facing change. After Tracker season 3 ended things off with Colter finding his way to his home base, a space we as viewers didn't know existed before the enlightening finale, the next season should start with an air of mystery. While the long-winding mystery of Ashton Shaw, Colter's late father, was finally resolved, a larger mystery about Colter himself was presented by his older brother, Russell Shaw (Jensen Ackles). While Colter's blissfully unaware of what Russell's discovered about their childhood, the elder Shaw brother is necessary to continue the story. Unfortunately, Ackles has yet to be announced to return to Tracker. As one of the best parts of Tracker despite a minimal role, Ackles' Russell having yet to be confirmed as a part of the show's upcoming fourth season is a major problem. The series can't keep going without Ackles, especially with Tracker's next massive Shaw mystery hinging on his shoulders. Jensen Ackles' Russell Shaw Has Yet To Be Confirmed For Tracker Season 4 Sergei Bachlakov / CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection With Tracker season 4 moving to Los Angeles for filming and leaving Vancouver behind, the location shift isn't the only thing that has some of the show's fans concerned about its future. After appearing in four episodes during Tracker season 3, Ackles has yet to be confirmed to be a part of Tracker season 4. While he's appeared in a limited number of episodes of the CBS hit thus far, Ackles has been in each of the show's three seasons, and it would be surprising to see him not appear in the fourth despite the season 3 finale's pointed message. At the end of Tracker season 3, Ackles' Russell let Reenie Green (Fiona Rene) know that he needed to do some heavy lifting to research something that he didn't want Colter to know about. Sharing that he'd be gone for some time, he asked Reenie to cover for him with his younger brother. What he didn't share with the lawyer was that he'd be digging around about the secrets of Colter's childhood, but Russell's absence was something that seemed planned for season 4. While he has yet to be confirmed, it would be shocking not to see Russell at all. Despite His Guest Status, Tracker's Best Storylines Involve Both Russell And Colter Credit: MovieStillsDB Although Colter is Tracker's central figure, Russell is just as much of a part of the show's identity as his younger brother. Russell's appearances from season to season have helped define what Tracker is, and who Colter is on top of that. Despite the fact that Colter interacts with plenty of people outside of his family of origin, most frequently keeping in touch with his team at this point, Russell's charm and intensity always makes for a fascinating episode, and deepens the lore surrounding Colter in a way that Tracker desperately needs. Tracker's not the same without Ackles' affable Russell. While there have been tons of Tracker storylines that pull in other guest stars for Colter to interact with, the dynamic between Colter and Russell is one of the most important on the series. From their estranged early days together on the series to the most recent episodes, where Colter and Russell appeared to be mending their relationship to a point where they may even spend more time together, the brothers' bond and the way they hold their family's secrets has been formative for Tracker as a series. Without Ackles, Tracker won't feel like the same show as it continues. Release Date February 11, 2024 Network CBS Showrunner Elwood Reid Writers Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham Creator(s) Ben H. Winters