Tracker star Justin Hartley previews the arrival of Colter Shaw's siblings. Led by This Is Us alum Hartley in the lead role, and from creator Ben H. Winters, the CBS drama centers on Shaw. He's a skilled survivalist who earns his living by helping law enforcement and others track down what they need in exchange for money. The cast of Tracker also includes Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany, Eric Graise, and Fiona Rene.
Now, after the news that Supernatural alum Jensen Ackles and Manifest's Melissa Roxburgh are joining the show as Colter's siblings, Hartley opened up to Collider about what to expect when the new characters arrive. The actor shed light on the process of casting Ackles and Roxburgh, respectively, and how their dynamic with Colter impacts the show. Read his comments below:
“Going back to CBS and the studio that I work for, Disney and 20th, they’re so open to these ideas. I’ve never executive produced a show before, so this is all new for me too. When I can go there and say, ‘Hey, I have an idea for Colter’s sister. I have a really wonderful idea for this particular actress, and here’s why…’ So, we hired this lovely woman, this friend of mine, Melissa Roxburgh , who’s just a fantastic talent. She comes in and crushes it. She’s on next week. She’s incredible.”
“And then, when it was time to cast Russell Shaw, I was like, ‘We built this whole thing up. It’s important that we get somebody in there that is just a juggernaut. Somebody that you would believe because he’s gonna go toe-to-toe with Colter, in a good or bad way, and that you also believe is his brother.’ And I just thought Jensen Ackles would be perfect for it.”
“Colter’s brother killed his father, so that adds a different dynamic. The relationship with Dory is strained for other reasons. It’s not like he suspects her of doing anything wrong like that, but it’s strained for different reasons.”
Tracker's Family Dynamics Are Definitely Complicated
Colter's Brother Killed Their Father
In the premiere episode of Tracker, which aired on February 11 after the Super Bowl, Colter is introduced as a lone wolf that's not connected to any particular place. He uses his skills to solve mysteries. But subsequent flashbacks shed light on Colter's unusual upbringing, which impacted the choices he's made. His dad, Ashton (played by Lee Tergesen), took his wife and kids to live in a compound and exhibited extreme paranoia.
One night in 2003, when their mother was away from home, Colter's father took off running thanks to his paranoia. Russell (Ackles' character) follows after Ashton. Colter would find Ashton dead an hour later, apparently pushed by Russell. Since then, Russell has attempted to connect with Colter, but their mother, Mary (played by Wendy Crewson) doesn't seem to be in favor of the two brothers being in contact.
Colter will consult with his younger sister Dory (Roxburgh) on a case. Russell, meanwhile, will help Colter look for a missing army buddy. But in their respective episodes, the strange family history will also undoubtedly loom over their scenes and perhaps receive some further explanation. It bodes well for the CBS series in any case, which has boasted strong ratings since its post-Super Bowl premiere and is already confirmed to be back for Tracker season 2.
