Which ‘Tracker' Characters Are — And Aren't — Returning for Season 3 After Cast Reconfiguration
Tracker is likely going through some cast reconfiguration in season 3, but which fan-favorite characters are returning — and which aren't?
Since Tracker premiered in February 2024, viewers have become accustomed to watching their favorite fictional survivalist Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) travel the country to help solve various missing persons cases with help from his team: handler Velma (Abby McEnany), hacker Bobby (Eric Graise) and attorney Reenie (Fiona Rene).
Imagine Us' surprise when executive producer Elwood Reid teased onscreen changes.
"I do think it's evolving. If I can't evolve those characters — Randy or Reenie or Bobby — they're not just people that just pick up the phone and go, 'OK, here is the answer.' That's when the show is phoning it in," he explained to Us Weekly in May. "The challenge is when you got to learn about them, which I thought was interesting. That's the challenge of the show is not having it fall into a formula."
Everything to Know About 'Tracker' Season 3: From Possible Cast Changes to Returning Guest Stars
Reid noted that they didn't want Tracker to "fall into complacency.'
"The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there's going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that's all something that's up for grabs," Reid teased. "Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we're going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That's fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members."
Keep scrolling to see which Tracker characters are returning for season 3 — and which aren't:
There would be no Tracker without Hartley's character, but is there a chance Colter could die later in the series? "I don't want our audience to forget that this man is mortal, he's not a superhero. He can die!" Hartley told The Hollywood Reporter in April. "The things he is doing are very, very dangerous."
Reid elaborated to Us one month later, saying, "There's the physical element of it. But then there's also — which I think we've seen a few times during the season — there's the emotional thing that gets to him. I continue to remind ourselves, the writers, that he's human, he can die and he can get hurt."
He continued: "Justin is always pitching that we see an episode where Colter is almost dead in the middle of the show and we go back. He's got all kinds of crazy ideas, but I think that's what makes the show fun. The minute he becomes like Superman, he is out. That's not what Justin wants to play — and I don't think that that's what the character is."
Weigert exited Tracker ahead of season 2 with her character being written off in the premiere. At the time, Teddi's wife mentioned that they needed some distance from each other, and Velma has since been working with Reenie.
'[Teddi] is going to be there for a while. She is helping her mom get sorted. I was getting in the way, you might say, and it really wasn't good,' Velma said at the beginning of season 2 in February. 'So I came back. Don't you worry, because I am keeping busy.'
While Colter's team will return, it remains unclear what the new normal will look like in season 3.
'I don't want the show to be 'phone a friend' every week,' Reid told Us. 'I think that gets old, and Justin is always challenging me on that. He's like, 'Do we need to do this? Do I need to call Bobby all the time? Can I do this?' ... You don't [always] see Reenie. He talks to Velma for two seconds. He may talk to Bobby for one phone call. The show works because you are over Justin's shoulder."
Most Iconic Guest Stars From Justin Hartley's 'Tracker' Series: Sofia Pernas, Jensen Ackles and More
Graise was noticeably absent from six episodes during season 2, which is why his cousin Randy (Chris Lee) was brought in to help Colter. The decision caused backlash from viewers who grew used to seeing Graise on their screen.
"It's one of those things where actor availability is always an issue. There have been shows where people don't even notice [if a character is missing]," Reid teased to Us. "One of the challenges in season 3 is going to be reconfiguring the team and figuring out what that team looks like."
According to Reid, season 3 will keep following Reenie's professional issues after branching out on her own. Rene also spoke to Us in November 2024 about what she would like to see for Reenie going forward.
"Obviously we're building on Colter's relationships and what he's able to do. We are getting to see more of him. But then for Reenie, we're seeing her identity without Colter," she teased to Us. "Before it was like, 'Who is she? What was her relationship to him? Who was she alongside him? How could she help him?' And even though all those things are still true, now we're seeing Reenie. Who is she and what's her life and what's she interested in and where is she in her life?"
"Randy came in and also gave something to the show that was different. There was a real warmth and fun when he came in. It was something that I think we were missing a little bit too in some episodes. He just was immediately fun when he came in," Reid told Us in May. "With those dynamics — and in playing with this team dynamics — that's all stuff we're going to continue to play with in season 3 as the show evolves."
Reid continued: "We're going to bring back some characters from seasons 1 and 2 — we're going to see them more and more. There's been some fun characters that I think are fun to see in Colter's world [season to season]."
If Hartley has his way — and he will as an executive producer on Tracker — his wife, Sofia Pernas, will reprise her role as Billie. The fictional character has made numerous appearances in the first two scenes as Colter and Billie grow closer.
'She's wonderful. I mean, if I had my choice, I'd spend every minute with her," Hartley gushed to Us in July 2024. "What's really cool is when you meet someone that means so much to you, that you're so proud to be with and so proud of, and just such a fan of, and to get to see her work, because she's such a talented actor. She elevates scenes, and so it makes my job easier, actually. But yeah, it's just wonderful to work with her.'
Breaking Down Justin Hartley's Possible Love Interests on 'Tracker': From Fiona Rene to Sofia Pernas
During an exclusive interview with Us, Melissa Roxburgh revealed whether she would return to CBS in a guest capacity despite starring in NBC's The Hunting Party.
"I mean, I hope so. I had so much fun on that show," Roxburgh, who plays Harley's onscreen sister, shared in February before praising her scene partner for creating such a fun set. "Justin is great. It's such a lovely and warm set [because] Justin does such a good job of making it that way."
She continued. "So I'd love to go back. Justin is a friend, and it's nice to play with your friends and I love the show, so we'll see."
The goal isn't just to bring Jensen Ackles back on Tracker. During an interview with Us, Reid didn't rule out expanding the universe with a spinoff.
"I'm going to try to steal Jensen," he quipped to Us. "We worked on another show of mine before, so I'm going to try to kidnap him back from The Boys [and Countdown]."
Despite Colter finding out that his mother was involved in his dad's death, the mystery is just getting started.
"That story will be far more complicated than you're led to believe at the end of the season," Reid shared with Us in May. "His brother Russell has some of the answers to that question. His sister Dory might have some pieces of that. His childhood friend Lizzy [Jennifer Morrison] might have some pieces of that too."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Labubu maker's stock falls after major restock, stern warning from China
The monster-faced collectible known as Labubu has gone from a niche collectible to a worldwide craze, but the heat is finally cooling. Labubu is a pointy-eared elf-monster designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung. It rose to fame as part of Pop Mart's "The Monsters" series, with collectors drawn to its blend of mischievous charm and exclusivity. Also driving demand are social media influencers and celebrity endorsements. Celebrities including Rihanna and BlackPink's Lisa have been spotted carrying Labubu. In China, a standard Labubu plush figurine retails for about 99 yuan (under $14), though it often remains out of stock. In the U.S., the same item is priced at $27.99. The pricing difference is partly driven by elevated import tariffs. Rare editions can fetch hundreds of dollars on secondhand markets. On eBay, the hidden version of a Labubu plush is priced between $500 and $1,000. Labubu maker Pop Mart is a Chinese toy company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a current market capitalization of HK$321.77 billion (about US$41 billion). Behind Pop Mart's cult following is its blind box business model, where buyers purchase sealed packages without knowing which figure they'll receive. Each series typically includes one or two "hidden" or limited-edition designs far rarer than the standard figures, driving repeated purchases and fueling a booming resale market. But now, the frenzy may have reached a tipping point. Image source: VCG/VCG via Getty Images Shares of Pop Mart International (HK: 9992) have tumbled more than 12% over the past five trading days, following a warning from Chinese state media over "blind box" sales. On June 20, China's state-run newspaper People's Daily criticized the "blind box" phenomenon, advocating for stricter regulation and age limits. The commentary did not mention Pop Mart by name and focused more on children and teens spending heavily on those blind boxes and cards. Related: How Labubu became luxury's answer to Beanie Babies Chinese customs shared on social media that they recently blocked multiple shipments of counterfeit Labubu products. Pop Mart has already faced increasing compliance pressure. Since 2022, regulators have required vendors to disclose the odds of receiving "secret" figures and to offer return options. Children under eight are banned from buying blind boxes, and online resales face more scrutiny from platforms. Meanwhile, Labubu prices on secondhand platforms have started to decline as hype cools and supply rises. On June 18, Pop Mart in China launched the largest online pre-sale to date for Labubu 3.0, the third generation of Labubu plush blind box launched globally in April. After weeks of "sold out" status across major platforms, the release drew massive demand, briefly overwhelming the company's domestic servers. According to local Chinese media, an estimated 4 to 5 million sets were sold during the pre-sale. The large-scale restock triggered an immediate collapse in resale prices in China. On RedNote, or Xiaohongshu, China's major social media and e-commerce platform, some resellers are now offering a presale set of Labubu 3.0 (which contains six blind boxes) for just $100. No major restock has occurred overseas, where demand remains high and inventory is limited. Despite the recent pullback, Pop Mart shares are still up more than 160% in 2025, reflecting investors' optimism about the company's international growth and product innovation. The company has launched flagship stores in cities such as New York and London and partnered with local artists to diversify its IP portfolio. Related: Analyst unveils surprising Nvidia stock price target after nearing record high Analyst tone on Pop Mart has turned more cautious after its sharp rally this year. Jefferies analyst Anne Ling believes that the Chinese government "remains supportive of China's IP development, but wants to protect minors and iron out irregularities." "In the short term, there will be pressure on share prices for the entire pop toy segment, especially those that have outperformed year-to-date," Ling wrote, according to Bloomberg. More Retail Stocks: Beloved American toy company sends harsh message to workersLululemon's new line faces heat over 'misleading' labelAnalysts reboot Nike stock price targets ahead of earnings Morgan Stanley on June 18 removed Pop Mart from its China/Hong Kong focus list, CNBC reported. The firm had cautioned earlier that the market had fully priced in recent growth. "In view of its lofty valuation, we do not expect this level of outperformance to continue in the next few quarters," the firm said in a June 10 research report. Related: Top analyst sends bold message on S&P 500 The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
a day ago
Jon Bernthal reported to join Tom Holland in upcoming 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'
Jon Bernthal could be set to return as the Punisher in "Spider‑Man: Brand New Day," the next installment in the Sony/Marvel Spider‑Man franchise, according to " The Hollywood Reporter." Directed by Shang‑Chi filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is scheduled to begin production in England this summer and is set for release on July 31, 2026, Sony announced via Instagram back in March. Bernthal previously portrayed Frank Castle in Netflix's "Daredevil and The Punisher," later reprising the role in "Daredevil: Born Again" on Disney+. While details remain under wraps, it is reported that the movie picks up after the events of "Spider‑Man: No Way Home," where the world's memory of Peter Parker's identity as Spider‑Man was erased. Tom Holland will return as Peter Parker, with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon expected to reprise their roles as MJ and Ned. The extent of their involvement has not been confirmed. "Stranger Things" star Sadie Sink and "The Bear" actress Liza Colón-Zayas are also joining the cast in undisclosed roles, according to IMDB. "Spider‑Man: Brand New Day" will be the fourth solo Spider‑Man film starring Tom Holland and the first directed by Cretton.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Justin Hartley on Playing a ‘Worm and Buffon' in ‘Bride Hard' and What Colter Will Learn About His Mother in ‘Tracker' Season 3: ‘There's Some Deep Psychosis There'
Justin Hartley is teasing what fans can expect from his 'Tracker' character, Colter Shaw, in Season 3 of his hit CBS series. 'I know we'll get to the nitty-gritty of why my mother hired this guy,' he told Variety Wednesday at the premiere of his new movie 'Bride Hard' in Los Angeles. 'Was she protecting her kids? Was an affair happening? Was the government involved? Was it strictly just my mother? Why did she hide that from us for so long? Why did she lead me to believe that it was my brother who was involved when he wasn't? It seems like this divide-and-conquer thing that she's doing. It was just an odd thing to do with your children. There's some deep psychosis there. We'll unpack that.' More from Variety Rebel Wilson on Working With Robert Pattinson's 'Batman' Stunt Coordinators on 'Bride Hard' And Wanting 'Fat Amy' to Get Married in 'Pitch Perfect 4' Dave Bautista Eyed for 'Road House 2' Advocate Originals to Launch on Hulu for Pride Month (EXCLUSIVE) Hartley said he admires the mysterious element of Colter. 'One of the things I love about our show is it seems like every time we answer a question, there are five more questions,' he said. 'It's almost like he's getting deeper and deeper. I really enjoy that about our show.' The new season of 'Tracker' is set to start shooting in July. In 'Bride Hard,' Hartley stars opposite Rebel Wilson — they previously worked alongside each other in 2022's 'Senior Year' — as the groom's best man (Chris) who assists a group of mercenaries that crash the wedding. Wilson plays a secret agent (Sam) whose cover is blown when she has to take on the mercenaries. Rounding out the cast are Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Gigi Zumbado and Stephen Dorff. For Hartley, portraying one of the bad guys who sets out to help the mercenaries is what interested him about the role. 'I thought it was so interesting because he's such a worm and a buffoon,' he said. 'To play something that I've never intentionally done before was fun for me.' Hartley praised Wilson for her stunt work throughout the film, particularly for the fight scene the two co-stars shared in the movie. 'You don't get a lot of time to rehearse that,' he said. 'She did a lot of that choreography. She did all of the hard work. I was trying to get out of the way or not quite get out of the way. She did a good job of not cracking me, but she never did.' For the other cast members, watching Wilson play an action hero was also a highlight for them. 'I love it,' Sherry Cola, who played Wilson's handler, said. 'Women can do it all. We can save the day. We can prove people wrong and break stereotypes. With Rebel, she's built such an exceptional career. I'm so excited for people to see her in this way.' The film's director, Simon West, also complimented Wilson's fight and stunt performances: 'She threw herself into it. She's a tough girl, and she wanted to do the action as much as she could herself. But she has her own style. It's kind of John Wick on steroids. She is not a quiet fighter. She's a crazy fighter, and she seemed to love it.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
