Tracker returns on 4 October with Colter hunting a missing father at the Port of Los Angeles
Jensen Ackles’ hit mystery-action series is finally heading back to CBS and streaming, with the next run picking up right after last season’s developments.
If you thought Tracker had run out of steam, not a chance. CBS is dragging it back for a fourth spin, and yes, Justin Hartley is still at the centre of it all, dashing about as Colter Shaw, the lone wolf who sniffs out missing people for a living. It's a pure procedural, but the Americans seem utterly hooked.
Tracker season 4 lands on CBS on 4 October 2026, with episodes streaming on Paramount+ in the US from midnight on 5 October.
This next lot kicks off in its usual Friday slot, 9:30pm Eastern, which translates to 'staying up far too late' here in Britain if you're streaming it same-night. For Americans, it's right after primetime, and that’s obviously working for the network — the series still pulls decent numbers.
What's next for Shaw?
Season 4 hits the ground running. The opener finds Colter on the hunt again, this time searching for a teenage boy's father who's vanished without trace (standard fare for him), tracking all the way to the Port of Los Angeles. Naturally, he blunders straight into a criminal mess that’s more complicated than anyone wants at that hour. If you want a gentle start, look elsewhere.
Familiar faces & family drama
It's not just Hartley back — the supporting crew stick around too, including Fiona Rene as Reenie, Chris Lee as Randy, and Cassady McClincy Zhang as Mel. They’re the regulars in Colter's makeshift team. If you're inclined towards Hollywood family sagas, Jensen Ackles pops up again as Russell, Colter's brother — a recurring thing, not just a cameo.
The new season doesn’t just toss out standalone cases. It's picking up the personal plotlines from season 3, which wrapped up 24 May 2026 after a hefty 22 episodes. That run dropped a batch of revelations about Colter's family, so expect that emotional baggage to keep surfacing as they push ahead.
Last season ended on 24 May 2026, leaving several mysteries about Colter's family tree unresolved.
The source material and what to expect
Just as a reminder, Tracker started life as Jeffery Deaver's novel The Never Game — a decent thriller in print, handed over to Ben H. Winters to adapt for the telly crowd. The TV version lets Hartley show off Shaw's survivalist skills while getting mixed up with cops, criminals, and whoever else will pay his finder’s fee. Nothing revolutionary for the genre, but it’s the sort of thing CBS churns out with alarming consistency.