‘Tracker’ Returns to CBS This Fall With a New Filming Home and a Familiar Family Mystery

CBS renewed ‘Tracker’ for its fourth season on Thursday, January 22, and viewers no longer have to wonder whether Colter Shaw is coming back. The new run now has a firm place on the network’s fall calendar, which makes this one of the more settled renewal stories on broadcast television.

For anyone searching for answers on the ‘Tracker’ fourth season, the short version is that the show is returning, it has a confirmed premiere date, and it is changing where it films. The series stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone wolf survivalist who uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards.

Tracker Season 4 Renewal Came Early

The renewal arrived midseason. CBS revealed that day that it already had 16 shows locked in for the 2026 to 2027 season, and ‘Tracker’ was among them. The decision was not a surprise given that the show has been a success since its debut in 2024.

The numbers explain the confidence. The third season premiere reached 17 million viewers after 35 days of multiplatform viewing, according to Nielsen, which landed close to the 17.34 million average posted by the second season. ‘Tracker’ and ‘Marshals’ were also the two most watched shows on network television last season.

Ownership and distribution add some context. The series is based on the novel ‘The Never Game’ by Jeffery Deaver and is produced by Disney’s 20th Television. It premieres on CBS and Paramount+ in the United States and on Disney+ internationally.

Tracker Season 4 Premiere Date and Time Slot

The wait is effectively over. CBS Premiere Week kicks off on Sunday, October 4, with ‘Marshals’ and ‘Tracker.’ The Hollywood Reporter was cited as the source for the October 4 premiere date.

The schedule has shifted slightly from last season. ‘Marshals’ returns at eight thirty in the evening, with ‘Tracker’ following at nine thirty. ‘Marshals’ airs immediately before ‘Tracker,’ and the new season streams on Paramount+ after it airs on CBS.

Early speculation had pointed to a different timeline. One outlet predicted that based on the past two seasons, the fourth season would begin in mid October. The network’s own schedule has since put the show at the very start of premiere week, which is a vote of confidence in its ratings pull.

Tracker Season 4 Cast and Returning Faces

The core cast is smaller than it was a year ago. Abby McEnany and Eric Graise exited between seasons, leaving Justin Hartley and Fiona Rene as the current series regulars. The structure of the show still leaves room for a deep bench of supporting players.

Chris Lee and Cassady McClincy Zhang have been recurring as Randy and Mel, working alongside Rene’s Reenie, while Melissa Roxburgh and Brent Sexton are also among the recurring guest stars. That setup suits a series where the lead travels to a new place each week.

The biggest name to watch is Jensen Ackles. He has been confirmed to return for the fourth season. His character, Russell, sits at the center of the unresolved family storyline.

The third season finale aired on May 24 and ended on a cliffhanger that threatens to reveal a big secret about Colter. The same outlet noted that viewers can expect the story to build on the family revelations, including where Russell went and what his secret mission is. CBS has not revealed the full storyline, so specific plot developments remain unknown until officially announced.

Tracker Season 4 Filming Location Moves to Los Angeles

The most visible behind the scenes change is geographic. Production is relocating from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles, California, thanks to a tax credit awarded by the California Film Commission. The credit is reported at 48 million dollars.

For a show built around travel, the move raises a fair question about how the series will look on screen. Hartley, who is also an executive producer, reassured viewers in a recent interview that the location change will not affect the storytelling.

Some practical details are still open. CBS has not yet confirmed the exact number of episodes for the fourth season. That leaves the length of the run, and how the story paces itself, as one of the few real unknowns heading into the premiere.

What is clear is that the series enters its next chapter from a position of strength, with a loyal audience and a family mystery that has been building for three seasons. If the cliffhanger in Colter’s past finally breaks open, will you be rooting for Russell to stand beside him or do you suspect his secret mission will pull the brothers further apart?