Why A Jensen Ackles Tracker Spinoff Feels Inevitable Now
Tracker was an overwhelming success during its first season, and following its achievements, one might wonder if CBS will explore spinoff possibilities, including one revolving around Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw. The action drama, created by Ben H. Winters, is based on Jeffery Deaver’s book The Never Game and revolves around Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw, a survivalist with expert tracking skills (hence the show’s name) who earns money by assisting law enforcement and other citizens. Although he busies himself with locating people and solving cases, Colter is haunted by people and events from his past, counting his older brother, Russell.
CBS renewed Tracker for season 2, which is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2024.
Tracker’s popularity would suggest that CBS is weighing its option regarding spinoffs, given the network’s history of capitalizing on a series’ success by building a franchise (e.g. FBI, NCIS, CSI, and so on). The action drama was not only the most-watched new network show in the 2023–2024 season, it was also the most-watched series on network television overall. Consequently, it would be foolish to believe CBS doesn’t plan on expanding Tracker’s universe, and it could start by developing a spinoff starring Ackles as Russell.
How Jensen Ackles’ Tracker Spinoff Would Work
Russell Shaw Appeared In Tracker Season 1, Episode 12
Colter’s brother, Russell, started appearing in flashbacks during the CBS show’s pilot episode, and Jensen Ackles joined the Tracker cast as the adult version of the character in episode 12. The brothers had been estranged (because Colter thought Russell had killed their father), but when Russell’s friend went missing, he enlisted Colter’s help to find him. By Tracker season 1’s ending, Colter started to believe Russell didn’t murder their father, and Reenie Greene mentioned that Russell contacted her from Argentina, implying Ackles would return in season 2. However, that doesn’t mean Ackles can’t have his own show on CBS.
CBS could easily take the groundwork that Tracker established and turn it into a full-blown series chronicling Russell’s work with the Horizon Group, a private security firm.
Ackles’ special guest appearance in Tracker season 1, episode 12, felt as if it could double as a backdoor pilot to a spinoff centering around Russell, seeing as it focused on his personal and work life (neither of which directly involved Colter). CBS could easily take the groundwork that Tracker established and turn it into a full-blown series chronicling Russell’s work with the Horizon Group, a private security firm. Plus, even if Ackles gets his own spinoff, that doesn’t mean Russell can’t occasionally show up in Tracker season 2 (especially since the season 1 finale suggested he would return).
It’s no secret that Jensen Ackles is a talented actor who has the capacity to headline his own television show. However, Ackles is even more qualified to star as Russell in a Tracker spinoff given his experience as playing a brother with a mysterious past. The actor’s most famous role is Dean Winchester in Supernatural, and over the course of 327 episodes, Ackles perfected the troubled brother archetype. As a result, CBS would be wise to jump at the chance to develop a Tracker spinoff focusing on Ackles’ Russell.
