CBS's Tracker follows Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw as he travels around the United States for different cases, but the majority of the TV show is filmed in one location (and it's not in the United States). The action drama series, created by Ben H. Winters, is based on Jeffery Deaver's 2019 novel The Never Game, which also centers around Colter, a survivalist who makes his living by taking on civilian cases and consulting with local law enforcement to find lost people and things. Consequently, Colter is always on the move, never settling in one place for very long.
Aside from Hartley, the cast of Tracker includes the likes of Fiona Rene, Abby McEnany, and Eric Graise, and special guest appearances by notable stars like Jensen Ackles and Jennifer Morrison. Since it is a procedural series and Colter travels the country for his profession, each episode contains a new set of characters. Nevertheless, they all gather in one city to film most of Tracker's scenes — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Scenes That Can't Be Filmed On Location Are Captured At Vancouver Film Studios
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Since the production of Tracker seasons 1 and 2 are stationed in Vancouver, it makes sense that the cast and crew would utilize the famous Vancouver Film Studios, a production facility where numerous movies and TV shows are filmed. Vancouver Film Studios opened in 1997, and since then, thousands of projects have used its sound stages to capture various scenes. Movies like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Fifty Shades of Grey, Elf, X-Men: The Last Stand, Deadpool, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and many others were shot at Vancouver Film Studios.
Aside from Tracker, TV shows such as Fringe, Arrow, Bates Motel, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and the CBS series Fire Country have also used the Vancouver Film Studios to film episodes. So, the facility is a popular pick among production crews. Everything that can't be filmed on location for Justin Hartley's action drama show is shot at Vancouver Film Studios. Some of the best Colter Shaw moments in Tracker season 1 were undoubtedly captured in the studio, like when he broke into the Burger Bin office during the pilot episode.
Vancouver & The Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area, British Columbia, Canada
Production Is Based In Vancouver
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Tracker Cast | Role |
|---|---|
Justin Hartley | Colter Shaw |
Robin Weigert | Teddi Bruin |
Abby McEnany | Velma Bruin |
Eric Graise | Bobby Exley |
Fiona Rene | Reenie Greene |
Lee Tergesen | Ashton Shaw |
Wendy Crewson | Mary Dove Shaw |
Jensen Ackles | Russell Shaw |
Melissa Roxburgh | Dory Shaw |
Jennifer Morrison | Lizzy Hawking |
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The cast of crew of Tracker take advantage of Vancouver's (and the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area's) diverse and breathtaking landscapes and locations throughout its episodes. Since the CBS action drama TV series is supposed to take place in numerous locations, the crew uses various cities, beaches, forests, mountains, and more in the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area to double as different cities across the United States. For example, when Colter traveled to Chicago, Illinois, in Tracker season 1, episode 7, the cast filmed scenes in Vancouver's Chinatown to replicate the Windy City.
Other locations that the production crew of Tracker sought out for season 1 include a Belcarra quarry, Maple Ridge, the Cleveland Dam, George Wainborn Park, and Simon Fraser University (according to Atlas of Wonders). They travel all across the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area to capture sequences for the episodes of the CBS show. The cast will return to Vancouver to film Tracker season 2.
McAbee Fossil Beds, British Columbia, Canada
Tracker's Opening Scene
The first scene in the Tracker season 1 pilot is thought to have been shot at McAbee Fossil Beds, which is located just east of Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada. As fans may recall, the show opens with Colter Shaw rescuing a hiker in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, establishing his role as a survivalist and expert tracker. However, the scene wasn't actually filmed in Nevada, and thankfully, Canada had a location that could resemble the Black Rock Desert.
Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Tracker Season 1 Finale
The majority of the Tracker season 1 finale was filmed in Tofino, which is a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The episode was technically set in Sandy Point, Oregon, a fictional coastal city. So, Tofino's beaches (including Chesterman Beach, where Colter met with Jennifer Morrison's Lizzy Hawking) and coastlines made it the perfect spot to double as Sandy Point. Ultimately, the cast and crew of Tracker travel all over the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area to shoot scenes, making the list of filming locations endless and evergrowing.
Source: Atlas of Wonders
