Justin Hartley Teases Romance in Tracker Season 4
After moving from Vancouver to LA, Tracker returns for season 4. Justin Hartley shares what's next for Colter, from new secrets to crossover ideas.
Justin Hartley says the fourth season of Tracker, which premiered Oct. 4 on CBS, turns up the action and, for the first time, gives Colter Shaw a bit of a personal life. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in an exclusive interview on the show's new Los Angeles set, the star teased that if Colter ties up some of the loose ends weighing on him, he may finally become available for romance. Hartley kept the details vague to avoid spoilers, but promised that the season stays true to the show's blueprint and will feel familiar to longtime viewers.
The new set is the other big story. The drama has relocated to Hollywood after three seasons in Vancouver, helped by a $48 million tax credit from the state of California. Hartley said he is glad to help chip away at the slump LA's industry has suffered in recent years, while noting that the crew built something special in Vancouver and has a strong fan base there.
Shooting in LA also gives the show more room to play, since it can pass for mountains, ocean, desert or city, which suits a series about a drifter who travels constantly. Hartley, who lives in Los Angeles, joked that the biggest perk is sleeping in his own bed, adding that he has never actually slept in Colter's Airstream.
On the story side, the season picks up after Colter believed he had solved the mysteries surrounding his father's life and death, only to uncover new secrets that Hartley says affect him in a big way. The actor explained that he approaches the character as someone shaped by his experiences, much like a person who rearranges their life to avoid rush-hour traffic. In his view, the earlier, more idealistic Colter has changed, but he still believes people are naturally good. That outlook has been tested by his strained relationship with his brother, played by Jensen Ackles, a thread the new season continues to explore.
Hartley also reflected on how quickly the show has reached season four, saying he still can't quite believe it. He credited the brisk cadence of the production, noting that many series today have no clear timetable between seasons. Although he leaves Colter behind when he goes home, he said he enjoys playing a hero with a moral north star who is also flawed and still figuring things out.With the show now based in Los Angeles, the interviewer floated the idea of TV crossovers, and Hartley was game. He said Colter would gladly help Kathy Bates on a case in Matlock, and he was equally open to a visit with the NCIS team. For now, the move to Los Angeles marks a fresh start for Tracker, with a bigger canvas and a hero who may finally have time for something beyond the road.
