The showrunners for CBS’ action drama Tracker reveal that a spinoff of the show won’t happen just yet. Based on Jeffery Deaver’s 2019 novel titled The Never Game, the series follows Justin Hartley’s character Colter Shaw, a lone wolf who assists law enforcement as well as civilians in finding their missing loved ones in exchange for money. The first season, which was released in early 2024, was well received, ending up as a massive success for CBS. And ahead of Tracker season 2’s release, there have been rumors about a possible spinoff.
The showrunners Elwood Reid and Ken Olin reveal to TV Line that a spinoff of the CBS show won’t be happening just yet because they believe it will not be in Tracker’s best interest. Reid argues that he’s seen shows that produce spinoffs too early can make both the original show and the spinoff suffer. Olin agrees with Reid, claiming that they’re satisfied with how the show is for now. Read their full quote below:
Reid: It’s so funny because all my friends are like, ‘You’ve got to start thinking about spinning it off.’ Second seasons are very hard. I’ve seen this with shows, where they spin them off too early, then both shows suffer. The show is so singular with Justin [at its center] that it’s really important we keep expanding the world, expanding the cases and [expanding] what Tracker can do. Unlike a lot of shows — unlike a cop show in New York or Chicago, where they’re always dealing with a homicide — I can go into any world. I can go into stock car racing, I can go into Nashville, I can go into any world I want.
Olsin: Elwood and I, we’re pretty satisfied, too, by doing this [one show]. It’s a weird show to spin-off. But also, like, things don’t break through easily anymore…. I mean, look, Dick Wolf has been very successful and all that, but those [shows] are also how old now?
A Tracker Spinoff Show Seems Inevitable
Following its release in February 2024, Tracker quickly garnered a huge audience, eventually ending up as the most-watched new series in the 2023–2024 seasons and beating other established dramas like Chicago Fire, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, and even popular CBS sitcoms like Young Sheldon. The show became hugely successful for a number of reasons, most notably the Tracker cast, which features multiple talented and familiar actors.
Seeing as several networks and CBS in particular have capitalized off the success of other hit TV shows like NCIS and FBI, going on to build a franchise that has extended the various worlds that these shows exist in, it is very likely that a Tracker spinoff will also arrive sooner rather than later. In the case that a Tracker spinoff is officially ordered to series, there are a number of characters and possible avenues to explore.
One character who could potentially lead a Tracker spinoff series is Colter’s brother, Russell, who fully joined the cast in episode 12 of season 1 and is also expected to reprise his role in the forthcoming season. Russell is played by the talented Jensen Ackles, who has previously excelled in shows like Supernatural and The Boys. Another character that could possibly lead a Tracker spinoff is Sofia Pernas, who plays Billie Matalon, another skilled tacker and survivalist like Colter Shaw.
